What it's like to live in Madison
Madison is a large city in Wisconsin with unemployment below the national average, crime rates well below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Madison deals with cold, harsh winters and snowy winters.
The good
- Low unemployment
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Strong hospital ratings
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Cold, harsh winters
- Snowy winters — 52" per year
How Madison compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Madison
Based on Madison's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,826
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $56,520 a year
- 48% of Madison renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$74,580
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $37,290
- Homes cost 4.8× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,413/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,413 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices run above average, with a median around $372,900. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $372,900 · 48% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 42% below US
2.5% unemployment
Unemployment here is 2.5%, well below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 35% below US
214 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1882/100k · Madison Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 25% below US
19 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 19.4 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 6 in 10 workers drive to work; 5% take public transit; 21% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 80°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 14°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
5 hospitals
There are 5 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 4.8 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 66% above US
60% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
57 public schools inside the boundary
There are 57 public schools inside the boundary and 25 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Ice Age National Scenic Trail (63 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Madison's strongest points are unemployment below the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are cold, harsh winters and snowy winters. A year of median rent ($1,413/mo) equals 22% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit job seekers, anyone prioritizing low crime, and remote workers (21% of workers here already work from home). It may be a harder fit for anyone who dislikes long, cold winters.
Other places near Madison
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