Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kansas City, KS
VS
Madison, WI
🏆 Madison leads 12 of 23 categories
Kansas City
Kansas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,120
Violent Crime Index
276⚠ High
Population
155,438
Madison
Wisconsin
12
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.
Kansas City, KS
Pros
Homes cost $193k less ($133,800 vs $326,600)
Rent averages $247/mo less ($1,044 vs $1,291)
Milder winters — January highs near 40°F vs 28°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Madison
Cons
Median income trails Madison by $18,775/yr
Violent crime (1047.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3606.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 2.6%)
Madison, WI
Pros
76% less violent crime than Kansas City
Households earn $18,775 more per year on average
More college-educated — 58.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (2.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 90°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $326,600
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Kansas City
Key Differences at a Glance
Kansas City
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 95.8 (100 = US avg)
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$193k less
$133,800 vs $326,600
Kansas City
Summer Heat
8.0°F warmer
July avg high 90.2°F vs 82.2°F
Madison
Median Income
$18,775
$74,895 vs $56,120/yr
Madison
Violent Crime
76% lower
256.0 vs 1047.2 per 100k
Madison
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
2.6% vs 6.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kansas City, KS | Madison, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 95.8 |
| Median Home Value | $133,800 ✓ Lower | $326,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,044 ✓ Lower | $1,291 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,120 | $74,895 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 2.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 15.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 234⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 276⚠ High | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 172⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | A (124) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.4:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.7% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.7% | 95.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kansas City | Madison Metropolitan School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.9°F ✓ Warmer | 27.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.1" ✓ Drier | 39.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.0" ✓ Less | 38.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 155,438 | 268,516 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 ✓ Older | 31.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 16.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kansas City's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Madison's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Kansas City is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Madison leads 12 of 23 categories. Kansas City wins 11 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 Kansas City to Madison or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($133,800 vs $326,600 median home), income ($56,120 vs $74,895), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kansas City, KS and Madison, WI are about 389 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.