Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Madison, WI
VS
Meridian, ID
🏆 Meridian leads 14 of 23 categories
Madison
Wisconsin
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8
Median Household Income
$74,895
Violent Crime Index
67
Population
268,516 ✓ Larger
Meridian
Idaho
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,296 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
119,872
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Madison, WI
Pros
Homes cost $99k less ($326,600 vs $425,800)
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $257/mo less ($1,291 vs $1,548)
More college-educated — 58.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Meridian by $18,401/yr
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Meridian
Meridian, ID
Pros
43% less violent crime than Madison
Households earn $18,401 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.8 vs 380/100k)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 28°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Madison
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $425,800
Higher rents — median is $1,548/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Madison
Median Home Value
$99k less
$326,600 vs $425,800
Meridian
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 95.8 (100 = US avg)
Meridian
Median Income
$18,401
$93,296 vs $74,895/yr
Meridian
Violent Crime
43% lower
146.8 vs 256.0 per 100k
Meridian
Summer Heat
10.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 82.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Madison, WI | Meridian, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $326,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $425,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,291 ✓ Lower | $1,548⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,895 | $93,296 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 2.7% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 22.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 15.3% ✓ Higher | 14.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 27 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (124) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.9% ✓ Higher | 43.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.5% | 96.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Madison Metropolitan School District | JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.7°F | 38.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.2°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" | 12.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.5" | 18.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 268,516 ✓ Larger | 119,872 |
| Median Age | 31.6 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 76.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.2% | 27.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Madison's cost of living index is 95.8 vs Meridian's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Meridian is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Meridian leads 14 of 23 categories. Madison wins 9 and Meridian wins 14. 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 Madison to Meridian or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($326,600 vs $425,800 median home), income ($74,895 vs $93,296), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Madison, WI and Meridian, ID are about 1,349 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.