Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Madison, WI
VS
Pearland, TX
🏆 Madison leads 12 of 23 categories
Madison
Wisconsin
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,895
Violent Crime Index
67
Population
268,516 ✓ Larger
Pearland
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,123 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
124,478
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Madison, WI
Pros
Rent averages $331/mo less ($1,291 vs $1,622)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (2.6%)
More college-educated — 58.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 93°F
Cons
Median income trails Pearland by $36,228/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $326,600
Pearland, TX
Pros
63% less violent crime than Madison
Households earn $36,228 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (95.9 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 28°F
Homes cost $16k less ($311,100 vs $326,600)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,622/mo
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Madison
Key Differences at a Glance
Madison
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Madison
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
2.6% vs 3.2% unemployment
Pearland
Median Income
$36,228
$111,123 vs $74,895/yr
Pearland
Violent Crime
63% lower
95.9 vs 256.0 per 100k
Pearland
Median Home Value
$16k less
$311,100 vs $326,600
Pearland
Summer Heat
11.1°F warmer
July avg high 93.3°F vs 82.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Madison, WI | Pearland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $326,600⚠ High | $311,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,291 ✓ Lower | $1,622⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,895 | $111,123 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 3.2% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 33.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 15.3% ✓ Higher | 10.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 69 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (124) ✓ Better | A- (115) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.9% ✓ Higher | 47.1% |
| High School or Higher | 95.5% ✓ Higher | 94.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Madison Metropolitan School District | PEARLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.7°F | 64.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.2°F | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" ✓ Drier | 53.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 268,516 ✓ Larger | 124,478 |
| Median Age | 31.6 | 36.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 76.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.2% | 28.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Madison's cost of living index is 95.8 vs Pearland's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Madison is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Madison leads 12 of 23 categories. Madison wins 12 and Pearland wins 11. 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 Pearland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($326,600 vs $311,100 median home), income ($74,895 vs $111,123), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Madison, WI and Pearland, TX are about 990 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.