Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Madison, WI
VS
Spokane, WA
🏆 Madison leads 14 of 23 categories
Madison
Wisconsin
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,895 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
268,516 ✓ Larger
Spokane
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,316
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
227,922
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Madison, WI
Pros
62% less violent crime than Spokane
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (2.6%)
More college-educated — 58.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $11,579 more per year on average
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Spokane
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $326,600
Spokane, WA
Pros
Rent averages $231/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,291)
Homes cost $40k less ($286,900 vs $326,600)
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 28°F
Cons
Violent crime (674.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Madison by $11,579/yr
Property crime (4840.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 2.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Madison
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 101.0 (100 = US avg)
Madison
Median Income
$11,579
$74,895 vs $63,316/yr
Madison
Violent Crime
62% lower
256.0 vs 674.9 per 100k
Madison
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
2.6% vs 6.2% unemployment
Spokane
Median Home Value
$40k less
$286,900 vs $326,600
Spokane
Summer Heat
4.9°F warmer
July avg high 87.1°F vs 82.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Madison, WI | Spokane, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper | 101.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $326,600⚠ High | $286,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,291 | $1,060 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,895 ✓ Higher | $63,316 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 20.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 15.3% ✓ Higher | 12.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (124) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.9% ✓ Higher | 32.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.5% ✓ Higher | 93.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Madison Metropolitan School District | Spokane School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.7°F | 37.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.2°F | 87.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.5" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 268,516 ✓ Larger | 227,922 |
| Median Age | 31.6 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 57.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.2% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Madison's cost of living index is 95.8 vs Spokane's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Madison is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Madison leads 14 of 23 categories. Madison wins 14 and Spokane wins 9. 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 Spokane or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($326,600 vs $286,900 median home), income ($74,895 vs $63,316), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Madison, WI and Spokane, WA are about 1,387 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.