Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Madison, WI
VS
Mesa, AZ
🏆 Madison leads 13 of 23 categories
Madison
Wisconsin
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,895 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
268,516
Mesa
Arizona
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$73,766
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
503,390 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Madison, WI
Pros
47% less violent crime than Mesa
More college-educated — 58.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (2.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 106°F
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Mesa, AZ
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 28°F
Cons
Violent crime (482.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (4.7% vs 2.6%)
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Madison
Key Differences at a Glance
Madison
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Madison
Median Income
$1,129
$74,895 vs $73,766/yr
Madison
Violent Crime
47% lower
256.0 vs 482.7 per 100k
Madison
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
2.6% vs 4.7% unemployment
Mesa
Summer Heat
23.7°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 82.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Madison, WI | Mesa, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $326,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $327,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,291 ✓ Lower | $1,352⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,895 ✓ Higher | $73,766 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 15.3% ✓ Higher | 14.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 104⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (124) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.9% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.5% ✓ Higher | 90.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Madison Metropolitan School District | Mesa Unified District (4235) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.7°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.2°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" | 9.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 268,516 | 503,390 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.6 | 36.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 63.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.2% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Madison's cost of living index is 95.8 vs Mesa's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Madison is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Madison leads 13 of 23 categories. Madison wins 13 and Mesa wins 10. 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 Mesa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($326,600 vs $327,700 median home), income ($74,895 vs $73,766), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Madison, WI and Mesa, AZ are about 1,376 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.