Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Madison, WI
VS
St. Louis, MO
🏆 Madison leads 13 of 23 categories
Madison
Wisconsin
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,895 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
268,516
St. Louis
Missouri
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.3
Median Household Income
$52,941
Violent Crime Index
360⚠ High
Population
298,018 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Madison, WI
Pros
81% less violent crime than St. Louis
Households earn $21,954 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (2.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 58.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $326,600
St. Louis, MO
Pros
Homes cost $153k less ($174,100 vs $326,600)
Rent averages $353/mo less ($938 vs $1,291)
Milder winters — January highs near 41°F vs 28°F
Cons
Median income trails Madison by $21,954/yr
Violent crime (1367.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5706.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 2.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Madison
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 96.3 (100 = US avg)
Madison
Median Income
$21,954
$74,895 vs $52,941/yr
Madison
Violent Crime
81% lower
256.0 vs 1367.1 per 100k
Madison
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
2.6% vs 5.4% unemployment
St. Louis
Median Home Value
$153k less
$174,100 vs $326,600
St. Louis
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 82.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Madison, WI | St. Louis, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper | 96.3 |
| Median Home Value | $326,600⚠ High | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,291 | $938 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,895 ✓ Higher | $52,941 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 23.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 15.3% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 325⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 360⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 272⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (124) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.9% ✓ Higher | 38.6% |
| High School or Higher | 95.5% ✓ Higher | 90.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Madison Metropolitan School District | ST. LOUIS CITY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.7°F | 40.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.2°F | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" ✓ Drier | 43.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.5" | 13.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 268,516 | 298,018 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.6 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% ✓ Higher | 44.9% |
| Under 18 | 16.2% | 18.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Madison's cost of living index is 95.8 vs St. Louis's 96.3 (US average = 100).
Madison is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Madison leads 13 of 23 categories. Madison wins 13 and St. Louis 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 St. Louis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($326,600 vs $174,100 median home), income ($74,895 vs $52,941), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Madison, WI and St. Louis, MO are about 311 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.