Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Madison, WI
VS
Palmdale, CA
🏆 Madison leads 14 of 22 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
Palmdale
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,414 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
145⚠ High
Population
166,895
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Madison, WI
Pros
54% less violent crime than Palmdale
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.8 pts lower (2.6%)
Commutes run 22 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 58.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $334/mo less ($1,291 vs $1,625)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Palmdale
Cons
Median income trails Palmdale by $3,519/yr
Palmdale, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 28°F
Households earn $3,519 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (551.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,625/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Madison
Pricier housing — median home is $397,500
Key Differences at a Glance
Madison
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Madison
Violent Crime
54% lower
256.0 vs 551.0 per 100k
Madison
Median Home Value
$71k less
$326,600 vs $397,500
Madison
Unemployment
4.8 pp lower
2.6% vs 7.4% unemployment
Palmdale
Median Income
$3,519
$78,414 vs $74,895/yr
Palmdale
Summer Heat
15.4°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 82.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Madison, WI | Palmdale, 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 | $397,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,291 ✓ Lower | $1,625⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,895 | $78,414 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 7.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 41.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 15.3% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (124) ✓ Better | C- (59) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.9% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.5% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Madison Metropolitan School District | Palmdale Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.7°F | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.2°F | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" | 7.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 268,516 ✓ Larger | 166,895 |
| Median Age | 31.6 | 33.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 66.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.2% | 29.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Madison's cost of living index is 95.8 vs Palmdale's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Madison is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Madison leads 14 of 22 categories. Madison wins 14 and Palmdale 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 Palmdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($326,600 vs $397,500 median home), income ($74,895 vs $78,414), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Madison, WI and Palmdale, CA are about 1,641 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.