Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Irvine, CA
VS
Madison, WI
🏆 Irvine leads 14 of 23 categories
Irvine
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$122,948 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
304,527 ✓ Larger
Madison
Wisconsin
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,895
Violent Crime Index
67
Population
268,516
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Irvine, CA
Pros
Households earn $48,053 more per year on average
67% less violent crime than Madison
Violent crime is well below the national average (84.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 28°F
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,025,700
Higher rents — median is $2,749/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Madison
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Madison, WI
Pros
Homes cost $699k less ($326,600 vs $1,025,700)
Rent averages $1458/mo less ($1,291 vs $2,749)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (2.6%)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Irvine
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Irvine by $48,053/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Irvine
Median Income
$48,053
$122,948 vs $74,895/yr
Irvine
Violent Crime
67% lower
84.0 vs 256.0 per 100k
Madison
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Madison
Median Home Value
$699k less
$326,600 vs $1,025,700
Madison
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
2.6% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Irvine, CA | Madison, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,025,700⚠ High | $326,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,749⚠ High | $1,291 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $122,948 ✓ Higher | $74,895 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 2.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.3 min | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.1% ✓ Higher | 15.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 40 ✓ Safer | 76 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 22 ✓ Safer | 67 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | A (124) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 26.5:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.0% ✓ Higher | 58.9% |
| High School or Higher | 96.3% ✓ Higher | 95.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Irvine Unified | Madison Metropolitan School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.8°F ✓ Warmer | 27.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.1°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.1" ✓ Drier | 39.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 38.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 304,527 ✓ Larger | 268,516 |
| Median Age | 33.8 ✓ Older | 31.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.9% | 47.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% ✓ More | 16.2% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Irvine's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Madison's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Madison is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Irvine leads 14 of 23 categories. Irvine wins 14 and Madison wins 9. 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 Irvine to Madison or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,025,700 vs $326,600 median home), income ($122,948 vs $74,895), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Irvine, CA and Madison, WI are about 1,657 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.