Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Madison, WI
VS
Salt Lake City, UT
🏆 Madison leads 15 of 22 categories
Madison
Wisconsin
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,895 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
268,516 ✓ Larger
Salt Lake City
Utah
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7
Median Household Income
$72,357
Violent Crime Index
227⚠ High
Population
201,269
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Madison, WI
Pros
70% less violent crime than Salt Lake City
Homes cost $132k less ($326,600 vs $458,600)
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (2.6%)
More college-educated — 58.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 91°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Salt Lake City, UT
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 40°F vs 28°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $458,600
Violent crime (864.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5200.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Madison
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 97.7 (100 = US avg)
Madison
Median Income
$2,538
$74,895 vs $72,357/yr
Madison
Violent Crime
70% lower
256.0 vs 864.2 per 100k
Madison
Median Home Value
$132k less
$326,600 vs $458,600
Madison
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
2.6% vs 3.6% unemployment
Salt Lake City
Summer Heat
9.2°F warmer
July avg high 91.4°F vs 82.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Madison, WI | Salt Lake City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper | 97.7 |
| Median Home Value | $326,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $458,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,291 | $1,254 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,895 ✓ Higher | $72,357 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 3.6% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 19.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 15.3% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 227⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (124) ✓ Better | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.9% ✓ Higher | 50.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.5% ✓ Higher | 91.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Madison Metropolitan School District | Salt Lake District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.7°F | 39.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.2°F | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" | 17.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.5" ✓ Less | 49.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 268,516 ✓ Larger | 201,269 |
| Median Age | 31.6 | 32.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 16.2% | 18.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Madison's cost of living index is 95.8 vs Salt Lake City's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Madison is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Madison leads 15 of 22 categories. Madison wins 15 and Salt Lake City wins 7. 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 Salt Lake City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($326,600 vs $458,600 median home), income ($74,895 vs $72,357), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Madison, WI and Salt Lake City, UT are about 1,164 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.