Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Madison, WI
VS
Quincy, MA
🏆 Madison leads 17 of 23 categories
Madison
Wisconsin
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,895
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
268,516 ✓ Larger
Quincy
Massachusetts
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,668 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
88
Population
100,981
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Madison, WI
Pros
Homes cost $237k less ($326,600 vs $563,200)
Rent averages $610/mo less ($1,291 vs $1,901)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.1 pts lower (2.6%)
24% less violent crime than Quincy
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails Quincy by $15,773/yr
Quincy, MA
Pros
Households earn $15,773 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 28°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $563,200
Higher rents — median is $1,901/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Madison
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Key Differences at a Glance
Madison
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Madison
Violent Crime
24% lower
256.0 vs 335.1 per 100k
Madison
Median Home Value
$237k less
$326,600 vs $563,200
Madison
Unemployment
4.1 pp lower
2.6% vs 6.7% unemployment
Quincy
Median Income
$15,773
$90,668 vs $74,895/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Madison, WI | Quincy, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $326,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $563,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,291 ✓ Lower | $1,901⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,895 | $90,668 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 33.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 15.3% ✓ Higher | 15.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 88 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (124) ✓ Better | A (119) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.9% ✓ Higher | 46.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.5% ✓ Higher | 89.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Madison Metropolitan School District | Quincy |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.7°F | 37.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.2°F | 83.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" ✓ Drier | 52.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.5" ✓ Less | 50.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 268,516 ✓ Larger | 100,981 |
| Median Age | 31.6 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% ✓ Higher | 43.9% |
| Under 18 | 16.2% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 16.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Madison's cost of living index is 95.8 vs Quincy's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Madison is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Madison leads 17 of 23 categories. Madison wins 17 and Quincy wins 6. 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 Quincy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($326,600 vs $563,200 median home), income ($74,895 vs $90,668), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Madison, WI and Quincy, MA are about 936 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.