Head-to-Head · City Comparison
High Point, NC
VS
Madison, WI
🏆 Madison leads 13 of 23 categories
High Point
North Carolina
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,582
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
114,120
Madison
Wisconsin
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8
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.
High Point, NC
Pros
Homes cost $130k less ($196,500 vs $326,600)
Rent averages $261/mo less ($1,030 vs $1,291)
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 28°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Madison
Cons
Violent crime (454.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Madison by $16,313/yr
Property crime (2456.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 2.6%)
Madison, WI
Pros
44% less violent crime than High Point
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (2.6%)
Households earn $16,313 more per year on average
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 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $326,600
Cost of living runs 3% higher than High Point
Key Differences at a Glance
High Point
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 95.8 (100 = US avg)
High Point
Median Home Value
$130k less
$196,500 vs $326,600
High Point
Summer Heat
7.2°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 82.2°F
Madison
Median Income
$16,313
$74,895 vs $58,582/yr
Madison
Violent Crime
44% lower
256.0 vs 454.8 per 100k
Madison
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
2.6% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | High Point, NC | Madison, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper | 95.8 |
| Median Home Value | $196,500 ✓ Lower | $326,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,030 ✓ Lower | $1,291 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,582 | $74,895 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 2.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.7 min | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.0% | 15.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 117⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | A (124) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.4% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 95.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Guilford County Schools | Madison Metropolitan School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.7°F ✓ Warmer | 27.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.3" | 39.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.9" ✓ Less | 38.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,120 | 268,516 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.7 ✓ Older | 31.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.1% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% ✓ More | 16.2% |
| Over 65 | 15.7% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
High Point's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Madison's 95.8 (US average = 100).
High Point is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Madison leads 13 of 23 categories. High Point 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 High Point to Madison or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($196,500 vs $326,600 median home), income ($58,582 vs $74,895), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
High Point, NC and Madison, WI are about 701 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.