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Government Data Sources

All rankings computed from publicly available federal and state government datasets. No proprietary, synthetic, or estimated data is used.

Bureau of Labor Statistics, LAUS (Dec 2025) Β· U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 Β· FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, 2024 Β· America's Health Rankings, 2025 Β· WalletHub/NAEP, 2025 Β· U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 Β· Cook Political Report, PVI 2024 Β· Tax Foundation, Facts & Figures 2025 Β· ALEC Rich States Poor States, 2025 Β· WalletHub Tax Burden Study, 2025 Β· U.S. Census Bureau / FHFA, 2025 Β· BEA Regional Price Parities, 2023 Β· EPA AirData, Median AQI by County 2024 Β· EIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024 Β· FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, 2025 Β· U.S. Census Bureau, Net Domestic Migration 2024 Β· FCC / BroadbandNow, Broadband Access 2025 Β· National Park Service API, 2024 Β· USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US), 2024 Β· U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022 Β· U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2023 (Commuting) Β· FHWA Highway Statistics, 2023 Β· U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022 Β· EIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024 Β· EIA Natural Gas Prices, 2024 Β· DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2023 Β· BEA Regional Price Parities (Food), 2023 Β· NCES Common Core of Data (CCD), 2023-24 Β· EDFacts ACGR Graduation Rates, 2021-22 Β· NCES School District Finance Survey (F-33), 2022-23 Β· BEA GDP by State (SAGDP9), 2023 Β· NASBO Fiscal Survey of States, FY2023 Β· Census Bureau State Government Finances, FY2022 Β· Pew Charitable Trusts Fiscal 50, FY2023 Β· Pew Charitable Trusts, FY2022 Β· S&P/Moody's via Ballotpedia, 2025 Β· Bureau of Labor Statistics, OES (May 2023) Β· IRS Statistics of Income, Migration Data 2021-2022

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National/WI/Madison
B+

Madison

WisconsinΒ·Rank #268 of 20 in WIΒ·Pop. 280,307
Composite Score57.8

Madison, Wisconsin scores 57.8/100 (B+ grade), ranking #268 of 20 cities in Wisconsin. Median income: $70,484. Crime rate: 303.8/100K.

πŸ’΅ Median Income
$70,484
β–Ό $1,974vs state ($72,458)
πŸ’Ό Unemployment
2.3%
β–² 0.7%vs state (3%)
πŸ”’ Violent Crime
303.8
β–Ό 8.8vs state (295)
πŸ“ˆ Pop. Growth
+1.5%
β–² 1.1%vs state (+0.4%)
πŸ›‘οΈViolent Crime Rate
303.8
per 100K Β· State avg: 295
🏚️Property Crime Rate
2354.6
per 100K Β· State avg: 1510
🏠Median Home Value
$346,900
Census ACS 2023
πŸ”‘Median Rent
$1,364/mo
Census ACS 2023
πŸ›’Cost of Living
95.8
100 = national avg
πŸ’ΈRent Burden
23.2%
Rent as % of income
πŸ“Price-to-Income
4.9x
Home value Γ· income
πŸ“ŠPoverty Rate
16.2%
Census ACS 2023
πŸŽ“Graduation Rate
84%
EDFacts ACGR 2021-22
πŸ‘©β€πŸ«Student-Teacher Ratio
13.1:1
NCES CCD 2023-24
πŸ’΅Per-Pupil Spending
$17,411
NCES F-33 Finance 2022-23
πŸ“šTotal Enrollment
24,741
NCES CCD 2023-24
🏫Public Schools
51
Regular public schools
βš–οΈObesity Rate
32.7%
CDC PLACES 2023
🩺Diabetes Rate
7.4%
CDC PLACES 2023
🧠Poor Mental Health Days
16.5
per 30 days Β· CDC BRFSS
πŸš—Mean Commute
16.5 min
State avg: 19.9 min
πŸš‡Public Transit Use
6.4%
State avg: 1.2%
πŸ’»Work From Home
15.3%
State avg: 10.1%
🌑️Annual Avg
51.4Β°F
NOAA Climate Normals
β˜€οΈSummer Avg
71.6Β°F
Jun\u2013Aug average
❄️Winter Avg
32Β°F
Dec\u2013Feb average
🌧️Annual Precip
36.3"
inches per year

Madison vs Wisconsin

MadisonWisconsin

Scores by Category

πŸ’° Economy60.7
β–² 4.5 vs state (state: 56.2)
πŸ›‘οΈ Safety70.5
β–² 3.2 vs state (state: 67.3)
πŸ₯ Health65.3
β–² 14.3 vs state (state: 51)
πŸŽ“ Education65
β–Ό 0.3 vs state (state: 65.3)
πŸ’Ό Fiscal Health41
β–Ό 22.6 vs state (state: 63.6)
πŸ“ˆ Growth62.2
β–² 18.5 vs state (state: 43.7)
🏠 Affordability68.7
β–Ό 4.7 vs state (state: 73.4)
🌿 Environment40.6
β€” same as state (state: 40.6)
🏞️ Outdoor Access23.9
β€” same as state (state: 23.9)
πŸš‡ Transportation55.7
β–² 11.5 vs state (state: 44.2)
🎭 Livability44.8
β–² 5.3 vs state (state: 39.5)

Madison vs Wisconsin

More Cities in Wisconsin

Brookfield65.3Menomonee Falls63.7New Berlin61.4Wauwatosa60.4Waukesha58.1Eau Claire57.8Appleton56.6Greenfield55.6Janesville55.5

Madison, Wisconsin Overview

Madison earns an overall grade of B+ with a composite score of 57.8 out of 100, ranking #268 of 20 cities in Wisconsin. The city's strongest category is Safety (71/100) while its biggest challenge is Outdoor Access (24/100).

Income & Employment in Madison

The median household income in Madison is $70,484 according to Census ACS data. The unemployment rate is 2.3%. The city's population grew 1.5% recently, indicating strong demand.

Safety in Madison

Madison has a violent crime rate of 303.8 per 100,000 residents. The property crime rate is 2354.6 per 100,000.

Cost of Living in Madison

Madison has a cost of living index of 95.8 (where 100 equals the national average), which is near the national average. The median home value is $346,900. Median monthly rent is $1,364. Overall, Madison offers below-average costs relative to the rest of the country.

Health & Wellness in Madison

The adult obesity rate in Madison is 32.7% according to CDC PLACES data. The diabetes prevalence rate is 7.4%. Residents report an average of 16.5 poor mental health days per month. These health indicators are important for assessing overall quality of life in Madison, Wisconsin.

Education & Schools in Madison

Madison has 51 public schools serving 24,741 students. The high school graduation rate is 84%, a solid rate. The student-teacher ratio is 13.1:1, indicating smaller class sizes. The district spends $17,411 per student. School data is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data and EDFacts.

Climate in Madison

Madison has an annual average temperature of 51.4Β°F. Summers average 71.6Β°F. Winters average 32Β°F. The city receives approximately 36.3 inches of precipitation per year.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the overall score for Madison, Wisconsin?

Madison has an overall score of 57.8 out of 100, earning a B+ grade and ranking #268 among 20 cities in Wisconsin.

What is the median income in Madison?

The median household income in Madison is $70,484, based on Census ACS data.

Is Madison safe?

Madison has a violent crime rate of 303.8 per 100,000 residents.

What is the cost of living in Madison?

Madison has a cost of living index of 95.8 (100 = national average). It is more affordable than the national average.

How are the public schools in Madison?

Madison has 51 public schools with a 84% graduation rate. The student-teacher ratio is 13.1:1.

← Back to Wisconsin

Data Sources

πŸ“ŽBureau of Labor Statistics, LAUS (Dec 2025)πŸ“ŽU.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024πŸ“ŽFBI Uniform Crime Reporting, 2024πŸ“ŽAmerica's Health Rankings, 2025πŸ“ŽWalletHub/NAEP, 2025πŸ“ŽU.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024πŸ“ŽCook Political Report, PVI 2024πŸ“ŽTax Foundation, Facts & Figures 2025πŸ“ŽALEC Rich States Poor States, 2025πŸ“ŽWalletHub Tax Burden Study, 2025πŸ“ŽU.S. Census Bureau / FHFA, 2025πŸ“ŽBEA Regional Price Parities, 2023πŸ“ŽEPA AirData, Median AQI by County 2024πŸ“ŽEIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024πŸ“ŽFEMA National Risk Index v1.20, 2025πŸ“ŽU.S. Census Bureau, Net Domestic Migration 2024πŸ“ŽFCC / BroadbandNow, Broadband Access 2025πŸ“ŽNational Park Service API, 2024πŸ“ŽUSGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US), 2024πŸ“ŽU.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022πŸ“ŽU.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2023 (Commuting)πŸ“ŽFHWA Highway Statistics, 2023πŸ“ŽU.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022πŸ“ŽEIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024πŸ“ŽEIA Natural Gas Prices, 2024πŸ“ŽDOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2023πŸ“ŽBEA Regional Price Parities (Food), 2023πŸ“ŽNCES Common Core of Data (CCD), 2023-24πŸ“ŽEDFacts ACGR Graduation Rates, 2021-22πŸ“ŽNCES School District Finance Survey (F-33), 2022-23πŸ“ŽBEA GDP by State (SAGDP9), 2023πŸ“ŽNASBO Fiscal Survey of States, FY2023πŸ“ŽCensus Bureau State Government Finances, FY2022πŸ“ŽPew Charitable Trusts Fiscal 50, FY2023πŸ“ŽPew Charitable Trusts, FY2022πŸ“ŽS&P/Moody's via Ballotpedia, 2025πŸ“ŽBureau of Labor Statistics, OES (May 2023)πŸ“ŽIRS Statistics of Income, Migration Data 2021-2022