Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Madison, WI
VS
Raleigh, NC
🏆 Madison leads 14 of 23 categories
Madison
Wisconsin
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,895
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
268,516
Raleigh
North Carolina
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$78,631 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
465,517 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Madison, WI
Pros
48% less violent crime than Raleigh
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (2.6%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 58.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 91°F
Cons
Median income trails Raleigh by $3,736/yr
Raleigh, NC
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 28°F
Households earn $3,736 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2819.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.5% vs 2.6%)
Pricier housing — median home is $347,000
Key Differences at a Glance
Madison
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Madison
Violent Crime
48% lower
256.0 vs 488.8 per 100k
Madison
Median Home Value
$20k less
$326,600 vs $347,000
Madison
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
2.6% vs 4.5% unemployment
Raleigh
Median Income
$3,736
$78,631 vs $74,895/yr
Raleigh
Summer Heat
8.4°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 82.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Madison, WI | Raleigh, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $326,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $347,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,291 ✓ Lower | $1,371⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,895 | $78,631 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 4.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 23.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 15.3% | 20.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 134⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (124) ✓ Better | A- (117) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.9% ✓ Higher | 52.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.5% ✓ Higher | 92.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Madison Metropolitan School District | Wake County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.7°F | 51.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.2°F | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" ✓ Drier | 49.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.5" | 4.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 268,516 | 465,517 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.6 | 34.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 51.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.2% | 20.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Madison's cost of living index is 95.8 vs Raleigh's 98.0 (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 Raleigh 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 Raleigh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($326,600 vs $347,000 median home), income ($74,895 vs $78,631), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Madison, WI and Raleigh, NC are about 762 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.