Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Madison, WI
VS
San Jose, CA
🏆 Madison leads 12 of 22 categories
Madison
Wisconsin
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,895
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
268,516
San Jose
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,010 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
160⚠ High
Population
1,001,176 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Madison, WI
Pros
Homes cost $823k less ($326,600 vs $1,149,600)
Rent averages $1235/mo less ($1,291 vs $2,526)
58% less violent crime than San Jose
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (2.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than San Jose
Cons
Median income trails San Jose by $61,115/yr
San Jose, CA
Pros
Households earn $61,115 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 28°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,149,600
Higher rents — median is $2,526/mo
Violent crime (606.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Madison
Key Differences at a Glance
Madison
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Madison
Violent Crime
58% lower
256.0 vs 606.8 per 100k
Madison
Median Home Value
$823k less
$326,600 vs $1,149,600
Madison
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
2.6% vs 4.7% unemployment
San Jose
Median Income
$61,115
$136,010 vs $74,895/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Madison, WI | San Jose, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $326,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,149,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,291 ✓ Lower | $2,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,895 | $136,010 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 28.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 15.3% | 16.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 160⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (124) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.9% ✓ Higher | 46.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.5% ✓ Higher | 85.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Madison Metropolitan School District | San Jose Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.7°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.2°F | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" | 18.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 268,516 | 1,001,176 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.6 | 37.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 55.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.2% | 21.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Madison's cost of living index is 95.8 vs San Jose's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Madison is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Madison leads 12 of 22 categories. Madison wins 12 and San Jose 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 San Jose or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($326,600 vs $1,149,600 median home), income ($74,895 vs $136,010), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Madison, WI and San Jose, CA are about 1,744 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.