Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Madison, WI
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 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
Wilmington
North Carolina
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1
Median Household Income
$58,908
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
116,933
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Madison, WI
Pros
47% less violent crime than Wilmington
Households earn $15,987 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 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
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 90°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Wilmington, NC
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 28°F
Rent averages $78/mo less ($1,213 vs $1,291)
Cons
Violent crime (482.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Madison by $15,987/yr
Property crime (3514.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.9% vs 2.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Madison
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 97.1 (100 = US avg)
Madison
Median Income
$15,987
$74,895 vs $58,908/yr
Madison
Violent Crime
47% lower
256.0 vs 482.8 per 100k
Madison
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
2.6% vs 4.9% unemployment
Wilmington
Summer Heat
7.8°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 82.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Madison, WI | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper | 97.1 |
| Median Home Value | $326,600⚠ High | $318,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,291 | $1,213 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,895 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 4.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.3% ✓ Higher | 14.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (124) ✓ Better | B+ (109) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.9% ✓ Higher | 43.6% |
| High School or Higher | 95.5% ✓ Higher | 93.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Madison Metropolitan School District | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.7°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.2°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.5" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 268,516 ✓ Larger | 116,933 |
| Median Age | 31.6 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 16.2% | 16.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Madison's cost of living index is 95.8 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Madison is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Madison leads 14 of 23 categories. Madison wins 14 and Wilmington 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 Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($326,600 vs $318,600 median home), income ($74,895 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Madison, WI and Wilmington, NC are about 873 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.