Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Henderson, NV
VS
Madison, WI
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Henderson
Nevada
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,311 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
318,063 ✓ Larger
Madison
Wisconsin
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,895
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
268,516
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Henderson, NV
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 28°F
Households earn $10,416 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $427,900
Higher rents — median is $1,641/mo
Higher unemployment (7.0% vs 2.6%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Madison
Madison, WI
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.4 pts lower (2.6%)
Homes cost $101k less ($326,600 vs $427,900)
Rent averages $350/mo less ($1,291 vs $1,641)
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 58.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 105°F
Cons
Median income trails Henderson by $10,416/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Henderson
Median Income
$10,416
$85,311 vs $74,895/yr
Henderson
Summer Heat
22.3°F warmer
July avg high 104.5°F vs 82.2°F
Madison
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 103.9 (100 = US avg)
Madison
Violent Crime
6% lower
256.0 vs 272.4 per 100k
Madison
Median Home Value
$101k less
$326,600 vs $427,900
Madison
Unemployment
4.4 pp lower
2.6% vs 7.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Henderson, NV | Madison, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.9⚠ High | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $427,900⚠ High | $326,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,641⚠ High | $1,291 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,311 ✓ Higher | $74,895 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 2.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% | 15.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 | 76 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 82 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | A (124) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.3% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.6% | 95.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clark County | Madison Metropolitan School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer | 27.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.5°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.5" ✓ Drier | 39.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 38.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 318,063 ✓ Larger | 268,516 |
| Median Age | 42.3 ✓ Older | 31.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.2% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% ✓ More | 16.2% |
| Over 65 | 20.0% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Henderson's cost of living index is 103.9 vs Madison's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Madison is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Henderson wins 11 and Madison wins 11. 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 Henderson to Madison or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($427,900 vs $326,600 median home), income ($85,311 vs $74,895), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Henderson, NV and Madison, WI are about 1,442 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.