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 25 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 | 117,070 | 280,305 |
| Population Density | 4.3k /sq mi | N/A |
| 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 | ||
| Sunny Days | 274 days/yr | 283 days/yr |
| Avg. High | 59°F | 58°F |
| Comfort Score | 46/100Mixed | 42/100Challenging |
| Temp Swing | 49°F | 53°F |
| Annual Rainfall | 35"(89 cm) | 33"(84 cm) |
| Annual Snowfall | 12"(30 cm) | 15"(38 cm) |
| Air Quality | AQI 42 (Avg)5 days > 100 | AQI 39 (Avg)0 days > 100 |
| Infrastructure & Lifestyle | ||
| Central walkability | 96 | 91 |
| Transit Score | 78 | 64 |
| Safety Score | 72 / 100 | 72 / 100 |
| School Rating | 8.6/10 | 7.1/10 |
| Flood Risk (FEMA) | minimalMinimal Risk | N/A |
| Fire Risk (FEMA) | 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 | ||
Plan a first lookWays to plan a first visit or connect with a relevant local partner. | Featured Local Partner ADYour logo Partner spot available For organizations that can help someone land in Ann Arbor | Featured Local Partner ADYour logo Partner spot available For organizations that can help someone land in Madison |
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