Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Madison, WI
VS
Portsmouth, VA
🏆 Madison leads 14 of 23 categories
Madison
Wisconsin
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,895 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
268,516 ✓ Larger
Portsmouth
Virginia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$57,154
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
97,384
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Madison, WI
Pros
66% less violent crime than Portsmouth
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 pts lower (2.6%)
More college-educated — 58.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $17,741 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $326,600
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
Homes cost $113k less ($213,300 vs $326,600)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 28°F
Cons
Violent crime (752.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Madison by $17,741/yr
Property crime (3860.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 2.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Madison
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Madison
Median Income
$17,741
$74,895 vs $57,154/yr
Madison
Violent Crime
66% lower
256.0 vs 752.4 per 100k
Madison
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
2.6% vs 6.6% unemployment
Portsmouth
Median Home Value
$113k less
$213,300 vs $326,600
Portsmouth
Summer Heat
5.8°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 82.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Madison, WI | Portsmouth, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $326,600⚠ High | $213,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,291 | $1,225 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,895 ✓ Higher | $57,154 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 23.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 15.3% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 184⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (124) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.9% ✓ Higher | 21.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.5% ✓ Higher | 89.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Madison Metropolitan School District | Portsmouth City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.7°F | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.2°F | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" ✓ Drier | 50.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.5" | 3.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 268,516 ✓ Larger | 97,384 |
| Median Age | 31.6 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 56.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.2% | 23.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Madison's cost of living index is 95.8 vs Portsmouth's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Madison is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Madison leads 14 of 23 categories. Madison wins 14 and Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($326,600 vs $213,300 median home), income ($74,895 vs $57,154), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Madison, WI and Portsmouth, VA are about 814 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.