Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Madison, WI
VS
Plano, TX
🏆 Plano leads 14 of 23 categories
Madison
Wisconsin
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,895
Violent Crime Index
67
Population
268,516
Plano
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,679 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
284,948 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Madison, WI
Pros
Rent averages $408/mo less ($1,291 vs $1,699)
Homes cost $86k less ($326,600 vs $412,500)
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (2.6%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Plano by $30,784/yr
Plano, TX
Pros
41% less violent crime than Madison
Households earn $30,784 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.6 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 28°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,699/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $412,500
Higher unemployment (4.4% vs 2.6%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Madison
Key Differences at a Glance
Madison
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Madison
Median Home Value
$86k less
$326,600 vs $412,500
Madison
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
2.6% vs 4.4% unemployment
Plano
Median Income
$30,784
$105,679 vs $74,895/yr
Plano
Violent Crime
41% lower
151.6 vs 256.0 per 100k
Plano
Summer Heat
12.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 82.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Madison, WI | Plano, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $326,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $412,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,291 ✓ Lower | $1,699⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,895 | $105,679 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 25.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 15.3% | 22.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (124) | A+ (134) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.9% ✓ Higher | 58.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.5% ✓ Higher | 93.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Madison Metropolitan School District | PLANO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.7°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.2°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" ✓ Drier | 40.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.5" | 2.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 268,516 | 284,948 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.6 | 38.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 56.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.2% | 21.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Madison's cost of living index is 95.8 vs Plano's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Madison is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Plano leads 14 of 23 categories. Madison wins 9 and Plano wins 14. 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 Plano or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($326,600 vs $412,500 median home), income ($74,895 vs $105,679), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Madison, WI and Plano, TX are about 799 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.