Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Madison, WI
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Madison leads 15 of 21 categories
Madison
Wisconsin
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,895 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67
Population
268,516 ✓ Larger
Worcester
Massachusetts
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,011
Violent Crime Index
4 ✓ Safer
Population
204,191
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Madison, WI
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 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
Households earn $11,884 more per year on average
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Worcester
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $326,600
Worcester, MA
Pros
94% less violent crime than Madison
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $21k less ($305,600 vs $326,600)
Cons
Median income trails Madison by $11,884/yr
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 2.6%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Madison
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Madison
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Madison
Median Income
$11,884
$74,895 vs $63,011/yr
Madison
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
2.6% vs 6.6% unemployment
Worcester
Violent Crime
94% lower
16.5 vs 256.0 per 100k
Worcester
Median Home Value
$21k less
$305,600 vs $326,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Madison, WI | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper | 103.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $326,600⚠ High | $305,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,291 ✓ Lower | $1,312 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,895 ✓ Higher | $63,011 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 24.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 15.3% ✓ Higher | 9.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (124) ✓ Better | B+ (106) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.9% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 95.5% ✓ Higher | 85.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Madison Metropolitan School District | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.7°F | 32.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.2°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" ✓ Drier | 48.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.5" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 268,516 ✓ Larger | 204,191 |
| Median Age | 31.6 | 34.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 16.2% | 19.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 13.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Madison's cost of living index is 95.8 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Madison is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Madison leads 15 of 21 categories. Madison wins 15 and Worcester wins 6. 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 Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($326,600 vs $305,600 median home), income ($74,895 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Madison, WI and Worcester, MA are about 895 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.