Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Madison, WI
VS
Sacramento, CA
🏆 Madison leads 13 of 23 categories
Madison
Wisconsin
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,895
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
268,516
Sacramento
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,954 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
199⚠ High
Population
523,600 ✓ Larger
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 Sacramento
Homes cost $124k less ($326,600 vs $450,500)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (2.6%)
Rent averages $301/mo less ($1,291 vs $1,592)
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 58.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Sacramento by $4,059/yr
Sacramento, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 28°F
Households earn $4,059 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $450,500
Violent crime (754.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Madison
Key Differences at a Glance
Madison
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Madison
Violent Crime
66% lower
256.0 vs 754.9 per 100k
Madison
Median Home Value
$124k less
$326,600 vs $450,500
Madison
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
2.6% vs 6.3% unemployment
Sacramento
Median Income
$4,059
$78,954 vs $74,895/yr
Sacramento
Summer Heat
12.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 82.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Madison, WI | Sacramento, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $326,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $450,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,291 ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,895 | $78,954 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 15.3% ✓ Higher | 15.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 121⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (124) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.9% ✓ Higher | 35.8% |
| High School or Higher | 95.5% ✓ Higher | 86.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Madison Metropolitan School District | Sacramento City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.7°F | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.2°F | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" | 20.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 268,516 | 523,600 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.6 | 35.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 50.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.2% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Madison's cost of living index is 95.8 vs Sacramento's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Madison is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Madison leads 13 of 23 categories. Madison wins 13 and Sacramento wins 10. 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 Sacramento or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($326,600 vs $450,500 median home), income ($74,895 vs $78,954), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Madison, WI and Sacramento, CA are about 1,693 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.