Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Madison, WI
VS
Mission Viejo, CA
🏆 Mission Viejo leads 12 of 23 categories
Madison
Wisconsin
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,895
Violent Crime Index
67
Population
268,516 ✓ Larger
Mission Viejo
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
26 ✓ Safer
Population
93,233
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Madison, WI
Pros
Homes cost $557k less ($326,600 vs $883,600)
Rent averages $1331/mo less ($1,291 vs $2,622)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Mission Viejo
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (2.6%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Mission Viejo by $61,675/yr
Mission Viejo, CA
Pros
Households earn $61,675 more per year on average
61% less violent crime than Madison
Violent crime is well below the national average (99.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 28°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,600
Higher rents — median is $2,622/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Madison
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Madison
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Madison
Median Home Value
$557k less
$326,600 vs $883,600
Madison
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
2.6% vs 4.4% unemployment
Mission Viejo
Median Income
$61,675
$136,570 vs $74,895/yr
Mission Viejo
Violent Crime
61% lower
99.2 vs 256.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Madison, WI | Mission Viejo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $326,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $883,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,291 ✓ Lower | $2,622⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,895 | $136,570 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 27.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 15.3% | 18.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 | 38 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 | 26 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (124) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.9% ✓ Higher | 51.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.5% ✓ Higher | 94.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Madison Metropolitan School District | Saddleback Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.7°F | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.2°F ✓ Warmer | 79.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" | 15.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 268,516 ✓ Larger | 93,233 |
| Median Age | 31.6 | 46.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 77.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.2% | 19.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 22.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Madison's cost of living index is 95.8 vs Mission Viejo's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Madison is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mission Viejo leads 12 of 23 categories. Madison wins 11 and Mission Viejo 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 Madison to Mission Viejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($326,600 vs $883,600 median home), income ($74,895 vs $136,570), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Madison, WI and Mission Viejo, CA are about 1,654 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.