Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Livonia, MI
VS
Madison, WI
🏆 Livonia leads 14 of 23 categories
Livonia
Michigan
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$92,458 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
94,928
Madison
Wisconsin
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,895
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.
Livonia, MI
Pros
Homes cost $78k less ($249,000 vs $326,600)
11% less violent crime than Madison
Households earn $17,563 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (228.1 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 2.6%)
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Madison
Madison, WI
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (2.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 58.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Livonia
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $326,600
Median income trails Livonia by $17,563/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Livonia
Median Income
$17,563
$92,458 vs $74,895/yr
Livonia
Violent Crime
11% lower
228.1 vs 256.0 per 100k
Livonia
Median Home Value
$78k less
$249,000 vs $326,600
Madison
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Madison
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
2.6% vs 5.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Livonia, MI | Madison, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $249,000 ✓ Lower | $326,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,291 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,458 ✓ Higher | $74,895 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 2.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.9 min | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.3% | 15.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 76 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 67 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) | A (124) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.1% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.7% | 95.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Livonia Public Schools School District | Madison Metropolitan School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.4°F ✓ Warmer | 27.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.0" ✓ Drier | 39.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.0" ✓ Less | 38.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,928 | 268,516 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 45.2 ✓ Older | 31.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 87.2% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 18.2% ✓ More | 16.2% |
| Over 65 | 21.7% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Livonia's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Madison's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Madison is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Livonia leads 14 of 23 categories. Livonia 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 Livonia to Madison or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($249,000 vs $326,600 median home), income ($92,458 vs $74,895), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Livonia, MI and Madison, WI are about 311 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.