Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Madison, WI
VS
Ontario, CA
🏆 Madison leads 14 of 23 categories
Madison
Wisconsin
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,895
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
268,516 ✓ Larger
Ontario
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
176,326
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Madison, WI
Pros
Homes cost $186k less ($326,600 vs $513,000)
Rent averages $535/mo less ($1,291 vs $1,826)
More college-educated — 58.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (2.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Ontario by $3,175/yr
Ontario, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 28°F
Households earn $3,175 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $513,000
Higher rents — median is $1,826/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Madison
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 2.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Madison
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Madison
Violent Crime
6% lower
256.0 vs 272.2 per 100k
Madison
Median Home Value
$186k less
$326,600 vs $513,000
Madison
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
2.6% vs 5.8% unemployment
Ontario
Median Income
$3,175
$78,070 vs $74,895/yr
Ontario
Summer Heat
11.6°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 82.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Madison, WI | Ontario, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $326,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $513,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,291 ✓ Lower | $1,826⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,895 | $78,070 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 15.3% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 72 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (124) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.9% ✓ Higher | 19.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.5% ✓ Higher | 76.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Madison Metropolitan School District | Ontario-Montclair |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.7°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.2°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" | 11.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 268,516 ✓ Larger | 176,326 |
| Median Age | 31.6 | 32.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 55.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.2% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% ✓ More | 10.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Madison's cost of living index is 95.8 vs Ontario's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Madison is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Madison leads 14 of 23 categories. Madison wins 14 and Ontario 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 Madison to Ontario or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($326,600 vs $513,000 median home), income ($74,895 vs $78,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Madison, WI and Ontario, CA are about 1,636 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.