Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Madison, WI
VS
Yuma, AZ
🏆 Yuma leads 13 of 23 categories
Madison
Wisconsin
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8
Median Household Income
$74,895 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
268,516 ✓ Larger
Yuma
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,312
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
96,314
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 5.1 pts lower (2.6%)
40% less violent crime than Yuma
More college-educated — 58.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $15,583 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 107°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $326,600
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Yuma
Yuma, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $140k less ($186,500 vs $326,600)
Rent averages $263/mo less ($1,028 vs $1,291)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 28°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Madison
Cons
Median income trails Madison by $15,583/yr
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 2.6%)
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Madison
Median Income
$15,583
$74,895 vs $59,312/yr
Madison
Violent Crime
40% lower
256.0 vs 423.6 per 100k
Madison
Unemployment
5.1 pp lower
2.6% vs 7.7% unemployment
Yuma
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 95.8 (100 = US avg)
Yuma
Median Home Value
$140k less
$186,500 vs $326,600
Yuma
Summer Heat
24.5°F warmer
July avg high 106.7°F vs 82.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Madison, WI | Yuma, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $326,600⚠ High | $186,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,291 | $1,028 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,895 ✓ Higher | $59,312 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min | 17.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.3% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (124) ✓ Better | C- (70) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.9% ✓ Higher | 20.3% |
| High School or Higher | 95.5% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Madison Metropolitan School District | Yuma Elementary District (4499) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.7°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.2°F | 106.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" | 3.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 268,516 ✓ Larger | 96,314 |
| Median Age | 31.6 | 32.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 64.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.2% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Madison's cost of living index is 95.8 vs Yuma's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Yuma is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Yuma leads 13 of 23 categories. Madison wins 10 and Yuma wins 13. 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 Yuma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($326,600 vs $186,500 median home), income ($74,895 vs $59,312), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Madison, WI and Yuma, AZ are about 1,544 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.