Housing and tax tradeoff: Madison, Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin comes out ahead here on rent burden and rent. This only compares rent burden, rent, home price, and estimated state tax burden; it is not a total cost-of-living ranking.
Demand-Backed Comparison
Compare Ann Arbor vs Madison on cost, climate, safety, and daily life
People have logged this comparison 30 times on WhyThere. The cards open full city pages. The charts and matrix below are the fast side-by-side read on housing, climate, walkability, safety, schools, parks, and day-to-day tradeoffs.
Ann ArborMadison
What Stands Out
A quick read on this comparison
Deterministic summaries based on the data in view.
Biggest tradeoff: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan is the sharpest split in this comparison: strong on daily convenience, weaker on sunshine.
Potential dealbreaker: Madison, Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin needs a closer look before you get too attached, especially on tax burden.
Comparison Matrix
| City | ||
|---|---|---|
| Route | ||
| General Info | ||
| Population | 122,216 | 280,305 |
| Population Density | 4.3k /sq mi | N/A |
| Center Elevation | 883 ft(269 m) | 876 ft(267 m) |
| Housing & Wealth | ||
| Median Home | $502,403 | $412,118 |
| Median Rent | $2,303 | $1,624 |
| Median Income | $78,546 | $74,895 |
| Rent Burden | 35% | 26% |
| Climate & Risks | ||
| Days with 5+ Hours of Sun | 274 days/yr | 283 days/yr |
| Avg. High | 59°F | 58°F |
| Avg. Low | 42°F | 41°F |
| Comfort Score | 46/100Mixed | 42/100Challenging |
| Temp Swing | 49°F | 53°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35"(89 cm) | 33"(84 cm) |
| Annual Snowfall | 30"(76 cm) | 38"(97 cm) |
| Air Quality | Typical: 422024 modeled avg · 5 days > 100 | Typical: 392024 modeled avg · 0 days > 100 |
| Infrastructure & Lifestyle | ||
| Transit Score | 78 | 64 |
| Safety Score | 72 / 100 | 72 / 100 |
| School Rating | 8.6/10 | 7.1/10 |
| Flood Risk (FEMA) | minimalMinimal Risk | minimalMinimal Risk |
| Central Tract Wildfire Risk | minimalMinimal | N/A |
| Internet Access | Fiber: 26%Cable: 95% | Fiber: 44%Cable: 95% |
| Demographics | ||
| Median Age | 27.4 years | 31.6 years |
| College Educated | 78% | 59% |
| Remote Workers | 23% | 15% |
| Nature Access | ||
| Local Nature & Reserves | Finding... | Finding... |
| Scouting & Local Help | ||
Housing and local helpA practical next step once someone starts picturing the move. | Featured Local Partner ADRealtor Realtor spot available For an agent, brokerage, or relocation team that can answer housing questions in Ann Arbor. One featured slot per city | Featured Local Partner ADRealtor Realtor spot available For an agent, brokerage, or relocation team that can answer housing questions in Madison. One featured slot per city |
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