Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Madison, WI
VS
Pittsburgh, PA
🏆 Madison leads 13 of 23 categories
Madison
Wisconsin
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8
Median Household Income
$74,895 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
268,516
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,187
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
303,843 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Madison, WI
Pros
40% less violent crime than Pittsburgh
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (2.6%)
Households earn $14,708 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 58.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $326,600
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
Homes cost $155k less ($171,800 vs $326,600)
Rent averages $138/mo less ($1,153 vs $1,291)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Milder winters — January highs near 37°F vs 28°F
Cons
Median income trails Madison by $14,708/yr
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 2.6%)
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Madison
Median Income
$14,708
$74,895 vs $60,187/yr
Madison
Violent Crime
40% lower
256.0 vs 427.2 per 100k
Madison
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
2.6% vs 5.7% unemployment
Pittsburgh
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 95.8 (100 = US avg)
Pittsburgh
Median Home Value
$155k less
$171,800 vs $326,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Madison, WI | Pittsburgh, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $326,600⚠ High | $171,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,291 | $1,153 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,895 ✓ Higher | $60,187 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 15.3% | 17.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| 🎓 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 | 11.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.9% ✓ Higher | 46.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.5% ✓ Higher | 93.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Madison Metropolitan School District | Pittsburgh SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.7°F | 36.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.2°F | 83.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" ✓ Drier | 41.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.5" ✓ Less | 44.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 268,516 | 303,843 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.6 | 33.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 47.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.2% ✓ More | 14.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Madison's cost of living index is 95.8 vs Pittsburgh's 94.4 (US average = 100).
Pittsburgh is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Madison leads 13 of 23 categories. Madison wins 13 and Pittsburgh wins 10. 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 Pittsburgh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($326,600 vs $171,800 median home), income ($74,895 vs $60,187), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Madison, WI and Pittsburgh, PA are about 520 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.