Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Madison, WI
VS
Urban Honolulu, HI
🏆 Urban Honolulu 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
Urban Honolulu
Hawaii
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,772 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
49 ✓ Safer
Population
348,547 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Madison, WI
Pros
Homes cost $479k less ($326,600 vs $805,500)
Rent averages $443/mo less ($1,291 vs $1,734)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 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
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Urban Honolulu
Cons
Median income trails Urban Honolulu by $7,877/yr
Urban Honolulu, HI
Pros
28% less violent crime than Madison
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 28°F
Violent crime is well below the national average (185.2 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $7,877 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $805,500
Higher rents — median is $1,734/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Madison
Higher unemployment (5.1% vs 2.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Madison
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 106.8 (100 = US avg)
Madison
Median Home Value
$479k less
$326,600 vs $805,500
Madison
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
2.6% vs 5.1% unemployment
Madison
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 82.2°F vs 79.0°F
Urban Honolulu
Median Income
$7,877
$82,772 vs $74,895/yr
Urban Honolulu
Violent Crime
28% lower
185.2 vs 256.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Madison, WI | Urban Honolulu, HI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper | 106.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $326,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $805,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,291 ✓ Lower | $1,734⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,895 | $82,772 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 5.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 22.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 15.3% ✓ Higher | 7.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 85 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (124) ✓ Better | B+ (108) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.9% ✓ Higher | 39.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.5% ✓ Higher | 90.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Madison Metropolitan School District | Hawaii Department of Education |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.7°F | 76.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.2°F ✓ Warmer | 79.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" | 31.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 268,516 | 348,547 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.6 | 42.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 48.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.2% | 16.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 21.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Madison's cost of living index is 95.8 vs Urban Honolulu's 106.8 (US average = 100).
Madison is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Urban Honolulu leads 12 of 23 categories. Madison wins 11 and Urban Honolulu 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 Urban Honolulu or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($326,600 vs $805,500 median home), income ($74,895 vs $82,772), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Madison, WI and Urban Honolulu, HI are about 4,152 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.