Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Madison, WI
VS
San Tan Valley, AZ
🏆 San Tan Valley 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
San Tan Valley
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0
Median Household Income
$88,466 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62 ✓ Safer
Population
101,207
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Madison, WI
Pros
Rent averages $438/mo less ($1,291 vs $1,729)
More college-educated — 58.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (2.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 104°F
Cons
Median income trails San Tan Valley by $13,571/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $326,600
San Tan Valley, AZ
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 28°F
Households earn $13,571 more per year on average
Homes cost $23k less ($304,000 vs $326,600)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,729/mo
Higher unemployment (4.5% vs 2.6%)
Longer commutes — 36.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Madison
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 100.0 (100 = US avg)
Madison
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
2.6% vs 4.5% unemployment
San Tan Valley
Median Income
$13,571
$88,466 vs $74,895/yr
San Tan Valley
Violent Crime
8% lower
235.7 vs 256.0 per 100k
San Tan Valley
Median Home Value
$23k less
$304,000 vs $326,600
San Tan Valley
Summer Heat
22.0°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 82.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Madison, WI | San Tan Valley, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper | 100.0 |
| Median Home Value | $326,600⚠ High | $304,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,291 ✓ Lower | $1,729⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,895 | $88,466 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 4.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 15.3% ✓ Higher | 13.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 46 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (124) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.9% ✓ Higher | 22.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.5% ✓ Higher | 92.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Madison Metropolitan School District | J O Combs Unified School District (4445) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.7°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.2°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 268,516 ✓ Larger | 101,207 |
| Median Age | 31.6 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 80.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.2% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Madison's cost of living index is 95.8 vs San Tan Valley's 100.0 (US average = 100).
Madison is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Tan Valley leads 12 of 23 categories. Madison wins 11 and San Tan Valley 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 San Tan Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($326,600 vs $304,000 median home), income ($74,895 vs $88,466), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Madison, WI and San Tan Valley, AZ are about 1,378 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.