Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kenosha, WI
VS
Madison, WI
🏆 Kenosha leads 12 of 23 categories
Kenosha
Wisconsin
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,963
Violent Crime Index
75
Population
99,493
Madison
Wisconsin
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
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.
Kenosha, WI
Pros
Homes cost $132k less ($194,400 vs $326,600)
Rent averages $212/mo less ($1,079 vs $1,291)
Cons
Median income trails Madison by $9,932/yr
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 2.6%)
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Madison
Madison, WI
Pros
10% less violent crime than Kenosha
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (2.6%)
More college-educated — 58.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $9,932 more per year on average
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $326,600
Key Differences at a Glance
Kenosha
Median Home Value
$132k less
$194,400 vs $326,600
Madison
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Madison
Median Income
$9,932
$74,895 vs $64,963/yr
Madison
Violent Crime
10% lower
256.0 vs 285.7 per 100k
Madison
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
2.6% vs 5.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kenosha, WI | Madison, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $194,400 ✓ Lower | $326,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,079 ✓ Lower | $1,291 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,963 | $74,895 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 2.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.4% | 15.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 62 ✓ Safer | 76 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | A (124) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.5% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.3% | 95.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kenosha School District | Madison Metropolitan School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.3°F ✓ Warmer | 27.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 39.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.2" ✓ Less | 38.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,493 | 268,516 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 31.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.7% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.7% ✓ More | 16.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kenosha's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Madison's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Madison is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Kenosha leads 12 of 23 categories. Kenosha wins 12 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 Kenosha to Madison or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($194,400 vs $326,600 median home), income ($64,963 vs $74,895), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kenosha, WI and Madison, WI are about 86 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.