Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Madison, WI
VS
Riverview, FL
🏆 Riverview leads 12 of 23 categories
Madison
Wisconsin
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,895
Violent Crime Index
67
Population
268,516 ✓ Larger
Riverview
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$87,383 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
102,467
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Madison, WI
Pros
Rent averages $466/mo less ($1,291 vs $1,757)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (2.6%)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 58.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Riverview
Cons
Median income trails Riverview by $12,488/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $326,600
Riverview, FL
Pros
49% less violent crime than Madison
Milder winters — January highs near 72°F vs 28°F
Violent crime is well below the national average (131.1 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $12,488 more per year on average
Homes cost $34k less ($292,700 vs $326,600)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,757/mo
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 2.6%)
Longer commutes — 34.5 min average each way
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Madison
Key Differences at a Glance
Madison
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Madison
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
2.6% vs 5.6% unemployment
Riverview
Median Income
$12,488
$87,383 vs $74,895/yr
Riverview
Violent Crime
49% lower
131.1 vs 256.0 per 100k
Riverview
Median Home Value
$34k less
$292,700 vs $326,600
Riverview
Summer Heat
8.7°F warmer
July avg high 90.9°F vs 82.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Madison, WI | Riverview, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $326,600⚠ High | $292,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,291 ✓ Lower | $1,757⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,895 | $87,383 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 34.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 15.3% | 17.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 21 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 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 | 19.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.9% ✓ Higher | 32.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.5% ✓ Higher | 91.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Madison Metropolitan School District | HILLSBOROUGH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.7°F | 71.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.2°F | 90.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" ✓ Drier | 54.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 268,516 ✓ Larger | 102,467 |
| Median Age | 31.6 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 72.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.2% | 25.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Madison's cost of living index is 95.8 vs Riverview's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Madison is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Riverview leads 12 of 23 categories. Madison wins 11 and Riverview wins 12. 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 Riverview or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($326,600 vs $292,700 median home), income ($74,895 vs $87,383), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Madison, WI and Riverview, FL are about 1,127 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.