Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hemet, CA
VS
Madison, WI
🏆 Madison leads 13 of 23 categories
Hemet
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$49,901
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
89,651
Madison
Wisconsin
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,895 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
268,516 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hemet, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 28°F
Homes cost $49k less ($277,200 vs $326,600)
Cons
Median income trails Madison by $24,994/yr
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Madison
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 2.6%)
Longer commutes — 36.8 min average each way
Madison, WI
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.9 pts lower (2.6%)
Households earn $24,994 more per year on average
40% less violent crime than Hemet
More college-educated — 58.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $326,600
Key Differences at a Glance
Hemet
Median Home Value
$49k less
$277,200 vs $326,600
Hemet
Summer Heat
12.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.1°F vs 82.2°F
Madison
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Madison
Median Income
$24,994
$74,895 vs $49,901/yr
Madison
Violent Crime
40% lower
256.0 vs 424.8 per 100k
Madison
Unemployment
6.9 pp lower
2.6% vs 9.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hemet, CA | Madison, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $277,200 ✓ Lower | $326,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,357⚠ High | $1,291 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,901 | $74,895 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High | 2.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 36.8 min⚠ High | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 15.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 98 | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (78) | A (124) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.9:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.9% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.9% | 95.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hemet Unified | Madison Metropolitan School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer | 27.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.2" ✓ Drier | 39.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 38.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,651 | 268,516 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.0 ✓ Older | 31.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 16.2% |
| Over 65 | 22.4% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hemet's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Madison's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Madison is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Madison leads 13 of 23 categories. Hemet wins 10 and Madison wins 13. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Hemet to Madison or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($277,200 vs $326,600 median home), income ($49,901 vs $74,895), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hemet, CA and Madison, WI are about 1,617 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.