Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Madison, WI
VS
Surprise, AZ
🏆 Surprise 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
Surprise
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$87,756 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
29 ✓ Safer
Population
145,591
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Madison, WI
Pros
Rent averages $531/mo less ($1,291 vs $1,822)
More college-educated — 58.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (2.6%)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 105°F
Cons
Median income trails Surprise by $12,861/yr
Surprise, AZ
Pros
57% less violent crime than Madison
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 28°F
Households earn $12,861 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,822/mo
Higher unemployment (4.6% vs 2.6%)
Longer commutes — 30.5 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Madison
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 101.2 (100 = US avg)
Madison
Median Home Value
$26k less
$326,600 vs $352,600
Madison
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
2.6% vs 4.6% unemployment
Surprise
Median Income
$12,861
$87,756 vs $74,895/yr
Surprise
Violent Crime
57% lower
109.1 vs 256.0 per 100k
Surprise
Summer Heat
22.4°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 82.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Madison, WI | Surprise, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper | 101.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $326,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $352,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,291 ✓ Lower | $1,822⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,895 | $87,756 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 15.3% ✓ Higher | 14.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (124) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.9% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.5% ✓ Higher | 93.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Madison Metropolitan School District | Dysart Unified District (4243) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.7°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.2°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" | 9.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 268,516 ✓ Larger | 145,591 |
| Median Age | 31.6 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 78.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.2% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Madison's cost of living index is 95.8 vs Surprise's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Madison is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Surprise leads 12 of 23 categories. Madison wins 11 and Surprise 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 Surprise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($326,600 vs $352,600 median home), income ($74,895 vs $87,756), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Madison, WI and Surprise, AZ are about 1,400 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.