Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Indianapolis, IN
VS
Madison, WI
🏆 Madison leads 12 of 22 categories
Indianapolis
Indiana
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,110
Violent Crime Index
231⚠ High
Population
882,006 ✓ Larger
Madison
Wisconsin
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8
Median Household Income
$74,895 ✓ Higher
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.
Indianapolis, IN
Pros
Homes cost $142k less ($184,600 vs $326,600)
Rent averages $245/mo less ($1,046 vs $1,291)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.6)
Milder winters — January highs near 34°F vs 28°F
Cons
Violent crime (877.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Madison by $15,785/yr
Property crime (3336.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 2.6%)
Madison, WI
Pros
71% less violent crime than Indianapolis
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (2.6%)
Households earn $15,785 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
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $326,600
Key Differences at a Glance
Indianapolis
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 95.8 (100 = US avg)
Indianapolis
Median Home Value
$142k less
$184,600 vs $326,600
Madison
Median Income
$15,785
$74,895 vs $59,110/yr
Madison
Violent Crime
71% lower
256.0 vs 877.9 per 100k
Madison
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
2.6% vs 5.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Indianapolis, IN | Madison, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper | 95.8 |
| Median Home Value | $184,600 ✓ Lower | $326,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,046 ✓ Lower | $1,291 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,110 | $74,895 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 2.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.0 min | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.3% | 15.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 202⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 231⚠ High | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 159⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | A (124) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.3:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.4% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% | 95.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indianapolis Public Schools | Madison Metropolitan School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.2°F ✓ Warmer | 27.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.7°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.2" | 39.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 25.5" ✓ Less | 38.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 882,006 ✓ Larger | 268,516 |
| Median Age | 34.3 ✓ Older | 31.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 16.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Indianapolis's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Madison's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Indianapolis is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Madison leads 12 of 22 categories. Indianapolis wins 10 and Madison wins 12. 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 Indianapolis to Madison or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,600 vs $326,600 median home), income ($59,110 vs $74,895), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Indianapolis, IN and Madison, WI are about 285 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.