Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Little Rock, AR
VS
Madison, WI
🏆 Madison leads 12 of 23 categories
Little Rock
Arkansas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,697
Violent Crime Index
440⚠ High
Population
202,218
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.
Little Rock, AR
Pros
Homes cost $121k less ($205,800 vs $326,600)
Rent averages $285/mo less ($1,006 vs $1,291)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 28°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.1)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Madison
Cons
Violent crime (1672.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Madison by $16,198/yr
Property crime (5214.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.4% vs 2.6%)
Madison, WI
Pros
85% less violent crime than Little Rock
Households earn $16,198 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (2.6%)
More college-educated — 58.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $326,600
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Little Rock
Key Differences at a Glance
Little Rock
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 89.1 vs 95.8 (100 = US avg)
Little Rock
Median Home Value
$121k less
$205,800 vs $326,600
Little Rock
Summer Heat
9.5°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 82.2°F
Madison
Median Income
$16,198
$74,895 vs $58,697/yr
Madison
Violent Crime
85% lower
256.0 vs 1672.0 per 100k
Madison
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
2.6% vs 4.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Little Rock, AR | Madison, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.1 ✓ Cheaper | 95.8 |
| Median Home Value | $205,800 ✓ Lower | $326,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,006 ✓ Lower | $1,291 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,697 | $74,895 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High | 2.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.3 min ✓ Shorter | 19.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 15.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 363⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 440⚠ High | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 248⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A (124) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.1% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% | 95.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT | Madison Metropolitan School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.5°F ✓ Warmer | 27.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.4" | 39.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" ✓ Less | 38.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,218 | 268,516 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.6 ✓ Older | 31.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.4% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% ✓ More | 16.2% |
| Over 65 | 15.0% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Little Rock's cost of living index is 89.1 vs Madison's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Little Rock is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Madison leads 12 of 23 categories. Little Rock 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 Little Rock to Madison or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($205,800 vs $326,600 median home), income ($58,697 vs $74,895), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Little Rock, AR and Madison, WI are about 599 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.