Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lakeland, FL
VS
Madison, WI
🏆 Lakeland leads 12 of 23 categories
Lakeland
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$58,290
Violent Crime Index
15 ✓ Safer
Population
114,404
Madison
Wisconsin
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,895 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67
Population
268,516 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lakeland, FL
Pros
78% less violent crime than Madison
Homes cost $119k less ($207,800 vs $326,600)
Milder winters — January highs near 74°F vs 28°F
Violent crime is well below the national average (56.0 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails Madison by $16,605/yr
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 2.6%)
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Madison
Madison, WI
Pros
Households earn $16,605 more per year on average
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)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $326,600
Key Differences at a Glance
Lakeland
Violent Crime
78% lower
56.0 vs 256.0 per 100k
Lakeland
Median Home Value
$119k less
$207,800 vs $326,600
Lakeland
Summer Heat
9.9°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 82.2°F
Madison
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 100.7 (100 = US avg)
Madison
Median Income
$16,605
$74,895 vs $58,290/yr
Madison
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
2.6% vs 5.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lakeland, FL | Madison, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.7⚠ High | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $207,800 ✓ Lower | $326,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,217 ✓ Lower | $1,291 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,290 | $74,895 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 2.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.2 min | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 15.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 15 ✓ Safer | 76 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 15 ✓ Safer | 67 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | A (124) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.1% | 95.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | POLK | Madison Metropolitan School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 73.7°F ✓ Warmer | 27.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.3" | 39.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 38.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,404 | 268,516 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 31.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.8% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 18.8% ✓ More | 16.2% |
| Over 65 | 21.7% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lakeland's cost of living index is 100.7 vs Madison's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Madison is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lakeland leads 12 of 23 categories. Lakeland 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 Lakeland to Madison or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($207,800 vs $326,600 median home), income ($58,290 vs $74,895), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lakeland, FL and Madison, WI are about 1,119 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.