Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Madison, WI
VS
Savannah, GA
🏆 Madison leads 11 of 21 categories
Madison
Wisconsin
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8
Median Household Income
$74,895 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67
Population
268,516 ✓ Larger
Savannah
Georgia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,748
Violent Crime Index
5 ✓ Safer
Population
147,583
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Madison, WI
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.6 pts lower (2.6%)
Households earn $20,147 more per year on average
More college-educated — 58.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $326,600
Savannah, GA
Pros
92% less violent crime than Madison
Homes cost $123k less ($203,300 vs $326,600)
Violent crime is well below the national average (20.3 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 28°F
Rent averages $75/mo less ($1,216 vs $1,291)
Cons
Median income trails Madison by $20,147/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 2.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Madison
Median Income
$20,147
$74,895 vs $54,748/yr
Madison
Unemployment
4.6 pp lower
2.6% vs 7.2% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 95.8 on the COL index
Savannah
Violent Crime
92% lower
20.3 vs 256.0 per 100k
Savannah
Median Home Value
$123k less
$203,300 vs $326,600
Savannah
Summer Heat
10.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.3°F vs 82.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Madison, WI | Savannah, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 | 95.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $326,600⚠ High | $203,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,291 | $1,216 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,895 ✓ Higher | $54,748 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 20.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 15.3% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 | 5 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (124) ✓ Better | B+ (106) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.9% ✓ Higher | 31.1% |
| High School or Higher | 95.5% ✓ Higher | 90.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Madison Metropolitan School District | Savannah-Chatham County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.7°F | 61.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.2°F | 92.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 268,516 ✓ Larger | 147,583 |
| Median Age | 31.6 | 33.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 16.2% | 20.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 14.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Madison's cost of living index is 95.8 vs Savannah's 95.6 (US average = 100).
Savannah is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Madison leads 11 of 21 categories. Madison wins 11 and Savannah 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 Savannah or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($326,600 vs $203,300 median home), income ($74,895 vs $54,748), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Madison, WI and Savannah, GA are about 887 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.