Moving to Madison
What you need to know before relocating to Madison, Wisconsin. Data-driven insights on housing, jobs, safety, and quality of life.
Is Madison a Good Place to Live?
Based on data across cost of living, job market, safety, and education, Madison compares favorably on multiple dimensions. Highlights include median household income ($82,132) exceeds the national median; low unemployment rate (2.2%) signals a strong job market; high school graduation rate of 94%.
Madison at a Glance
Cost of Living in Madison
The median rent in Madison is $1,335/month, while the median home value is $372,700. With a median household income of $82,132, residents spend roughly 20% of monthly income on rent.
Overall, the Madison metro area is classified as average compared to other US metros.
Job Market
Madison has a median household income of $82,132, which is 10% above the national median. The local unemployment rate is 2.2%, compared to the national average of 3.7%.
Safety in Madison
The violent crime rate in Madison is 289 per 100,000 residents, which is 24% below the national average of 380.
Property crime rate: 1217 per 100,000 residents.
Education in Wisconsin
Wisconsin has a high school graduation rate of 94% and per-pupil spending of $16,951/year. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14:1.
38% of Wisconsin adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Healthcare Access
Wisconsin has 298 physicians per 100,000 residents, a 5.1% uninsured rate, and 2.8 hospital beds per 1,000 people. Life expectancy in Wisconsin is 78.2 years.
Pros and Cons of Living in Madison
+Pros
- ✓Median household income ($82,132) exceeds the national median
- ✓Low unemployment rate (2.2%) signals a strong job market
- ✓High school graduation rate of 94%
- ✓Low uninsured rate (5.1%) and good healthcare access
-Cons
- ✗Home prices ($372,700) are above the US median
- ✗Longer-than-average commute (320553 min)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Madison a good place to live?⌄
Madison, Wisconsin has several attributes that make it an attractive place to live, including median household income ($82,132) exceeds the national median and low unemployment rate (2.2%) signals a strong job market. It scores well on multiple quality-of-life metrics relative to the national average.
What is the cost of living in Madison?⌄
The median rent in Madison is $1,335/month and the median home value is $372,700. The median household income is $82,132. Overall the metro is considered average.
Is Madison safe?⌄
Madison has a violent crime rate of 289 incidents per 100,000 residents. The national average is approximately 380 per 100,000.
What is the job market like in Madison?⌄
Madison has an unemployment rate of 2.2%, compared to the national average of 3.7%. The median household income is $82,132.