Madison

Madison, Wisconsin Overview

With a composite score of 59.1/100 and a B+ grade, Madison ranks #5 of 20 cities in Wisconsin. Its strongest showing is in Transportation (75/100), while Outdoor Access (24/100) represents its largest gap.

Income & Employment in Madison

The median household income in Madison is $70,484, 3% below the statewide median of $72,458. The local unemployment rate of 2.3% is lower than the state’s 3%. Population grew 1.5% recently.

Safety in Madison

Madison reports 303.8 violent crimes per 100,000, roughly in line with the statewide rate of 295 per 100,000. 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), slightly below the national benchmark. The median home value is $346,900. Median monthly rent is $1,364. Renters spend 23.2% of income on rent, well within the 30% affordability guideline.

Health & Wellness in Madison

The adult obesity rate in Madison is 32.7% (CDC PLACES). The diabetes prevalence rate is 7.4%. Residents report an average of 16.5 poor mental health days per month, above the typical range. Wisconsin ranks #25 nationally for overall health.

Education & Schools in Madison

Madison has a high school graduation rate of 84%. The student-teacher ratio of 13.1:1 indicates smaller class sizes. Local districts invest $17,411 per student, well above the national median. The city has 51 public schools serving 24,741 students. School data is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data and EDFacts.

Climate & Commute in Madison

The annual average temperature in Madison is 51.4°F. Summers average 71.6°F. Winters average 32°F. Annual precipitation is 36.3 inches. 15.3% of workers in Madison work from home, well above the national average. The average commute of 16.5 minutes is notably short.

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