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 Minneapolis on cost, climate, safety, and daily life
People have logged this comparison 15 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.
MadisonMinneapolis
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 daily convenience, weaker on sunshine.
Potential dealbreaker: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota needs a closer look before you get too attached, especially on tax burden.
Comparison Matrix
| City | ||
|---|---|---|
| Route | ||
| General Info | ||
| Population | 280,305 | 410,939 |
| Population Density | N/A | 7.9k /sq mi |
| Elevation | 876 ft(267 m) | 830 ft(253 m) |
| Housing & Wealth | ||
| Median Home | $412,118 | $315,907 |
| Median Rent | $1,624 | $1,693 |
| Median Income | $74,895 | $76,332 |
| Rent Burden | 26% | 27% |
| Climate & Risks | ||
| Sunny Days | 283 days/yr | 289 days/yr |
| Avg. High | 58°F | 57°F |
| Comfort Score | 42/100Challenging | 33/100Challenging |
| Temp Swing | 53°F | 59°F |
| Annual Rainfall | 33"(84 cm) | 35"(89 cm) |
| Annual Snowfall | 15"(38 cm) | 14"(36 cm) |
| Air Quality | AQI 39 (Avg)0 days > 100 | AQI 41 (Avg)0 days > 100 |
| Infrastructure & Lifestyle | ||
| Walk Score | 67 | 58 |
| Transit Score | 64 | N/A |
| Safety Score | 72 / 100 | 44 / 100 |
| School Rating | 7.1/10 | 4.5/10 |
| Internet Access | Fiber: 44%Cable: 95% | Fiber: 47%Cable: 100% |
| Demographics | ||
| Median Age | 31.6 years | 32.8 years |
| College Educated | 59% | 54% |
| Remote Workers | 15% | 20% |
| 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 Minneapolis |
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