Best for affordability: Madison, Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin looks like the easiest place here to live with less financial drag. It comes out ahead on rent burden and rent.
Demand-Backed Comparison
Compare Madison vs Ann Arbor on cost, climate, safety, and daily life
People have logged this comparison 22 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.
MadisonAnn Arbor
What Stands Out
A quick read on this comparison
Deterministic summaries based on the data in view.
Biggest tradeoff: Madison, Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin is the sharpest split in this comparison: strong on sunshine, weaker on climate comfort.
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 | 280,305 | 117,070 |
| Population Density | N/A | 4.3k /sq mi |
| Elevation | 876 ft(267 m) | 883 ft(269 m) |
| Housing & Wealth | ||
| Median Home | $412,118 | $502,403 |
| Median Rent | $1,624 | $2,303 |
| Median Income | $74,895 | $78,546 |
| Rent Burden | 26% | 35% |
| Climate & Risks | ||
| Sunny Days | 283 days/yr | 274 days/yr |
| Avg. High | 58°F | 59°F |
| Comfort Score | 42/100Challenging | 46/100Mixed |
| Temp Swing | 53°F | 49°F |
| Annual Rainfall | 33"(84 cm) | 35"(89 cm) |
| Annual Snowfall | 15"(38 cm) | 12"(30 cm) |
| Air Quality | AQI 39 (Avg)0 days > 100 | AQI 42 (Avg)5 days > 100 |
| Infrastructure & Lifestyle | ||
| Walk Score | 67 | 65 |
| Transit Score | 64 | 78 |
| Safety Score | 72 / 100 | 72 / 100 |
| School Rating | 7.1/10 | 8.6/10 |
| Internet Access | Fiber: 44%Cable: 95% | Fiber: 26%Cable: 95% |
| Demographics | ||
| Median Age | 31.6 years | 27.4 years |
| College Educated | 59% | 78% |
| Remote Workers | 15% | 23% |
| 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 Madison | Featured Local Partner ADYour logo Partner spot available For organizations that can help someone land in Ann Arbor |
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