Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Madison, WI
VS
Temecula, CA
🏆 Madison leads 12 of 23 categories
Madison
Wisconsin
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,895
Violent Crime Index
67
Population
268,516 ✓ Larger
Temecula
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,881 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
110,114
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Madison, WI
Pros
Homes cost $278k less ($326,600 vs $604,300)
Rent averages $931/mo less ($1,291 vs $2,222)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (2.6%)
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 58.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Temecula by $36,986/yr
Temecula, CA
Pros
Households earn $36,986 more per year on average
41% less violent crime than Madison
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.5 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 28°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $604,300
Higher rents — median is $2,222/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Madison
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 2.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Madison
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Madison
Median Home Value
$278k less
$326,600 vs $604,300
Madison
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
2.6% vs 5.8% unemployment
Temecula
Median Income
$36,986
$111,881 vs $74,895/yr
Temecula
Violent Crime
41% lower
151.5 vs 256.0 per 100k
Temecula
Summer Heat
5.0°F warmer
July avg high 87.2°F vs 82.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Madison, WI | Temecula, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $326,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $604,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,291 ✓ Lower | $2,222⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,895 | $111,881 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 15.3% ✓ Higher | 14.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (124) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.9% ✓ Higher | 38.1% |
| High School or Higher | 95.5% ✓ Higher | 93.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Madison Metropolitan School District | Temecula Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.7°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.2°F | 87.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" | 15.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.5" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 268,516 ✓ Larger | 110,114 |
| Median Age | 31.6 | 36.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 68.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.2% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Madison's cost of living index is 95.8 vs Temecula's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Madison is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Madison leads 12 of 23 categories. Madison wins 12 and Temecula wins 11. 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 Temecula or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($326,600 vs $604,300 median home), income ($74,895 vs $111,881), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Madison, WI and Temecula, CA are about 1,632 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.