Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Madison, WI
VS
Nashville-Davidson, TN
🏆 Madison leads 14 of 22 categories
Madison
Wisconsin
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,895 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
268,516
Nashville-Davidson
Tennessee
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$71,328
Violent Crime Index
296⚠ High
Population
684,103 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Madison, WI
Pros
77% less violent crime than Nashville-Davidson
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (2.6%)
More college-educated — 58.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Rent averages $101/mo less ($1,291 vs $1,392)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Nashville-Davidson, TN
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 28°F
Cons
Violent crime (1124.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4509.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.6% vs 2.6%)
Higher rents — median is $1,392/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Madison
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Madison
Median Income
$3,567
$74,895 vs $71,328/yr
Madison
Violent Crime
77% lower
256.0 vs 1124.1 per 100k
Madison
Median Home Value
$25k less
$326,600 vs $351,400
Madison
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
2.6% vs 4.6% unemployment
Nashville-Davidson
Summer Heat
7.1°F warmer
July avg high 89.3°F vs 82.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Madison, WI | Nashville-Davidson, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $326,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $351,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,291 ✓ Lower | $1,392⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,895 ✓ Higher | $71,328 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 15.3% | 15.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 296⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (124) ✓ Better | A- (110) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.9% ✓ Higher | 45.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.5% ✓ Higher | 90.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Madison Metropolitan School District | Davidson County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.7°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.2°F | 89.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.5" | 4.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 268,516 | 684,103 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.6 | 34.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.2% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Madison's cost of living index is 95.8 vs Nashville-Davidson's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Madison is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Madison leads 14 of 22 categories. Madison wins 14 and Nashville-Davidson wins 8. 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 Nashville-Davidson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($326,600 vs $351,400 median home), income ($74,895 vs $71,328), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Madison, WI and Nashville-Davidson, TN are about 498 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.