City Comparison
Madison vs Cincinnati
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Madison scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Madison
Cincinnati
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Cincinnati is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
5% lower than in Madison.
Housing costs are a major driver: Madison's average rent is
17% higher than Cincinnati's.
| Metric | Madison | Cincinnati | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,650 | $1,410 | +17% |
| Groceries | $420 | $493 | -15% |
| Utilities | $175 | $178 | -2% |
| Transport | $110 | $120 | -8% |
| Healthcare | $230 | $250 | -8% |
| Monthly Total | $2,585 | $2,451 | +5% |
| Cost Index | 104 | 103 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Cincinnati offers 10% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Cincinnati delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Madison is estimated at
$58,000 vs $55,000 in Cincinnati.
| Metric | Madison | Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $71,000 | $79,000 |
| Salary Needed | $58,000 | $55,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 68,269 idx | 76,699 idx |
| Household Income | $79,100 | $52,909 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Madison runs warmer on average — a 48.6°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Madison comes out ahead with 257 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Madison sees 27.7 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Madison | Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 48.60°F | °F |
| Summer High | 79.30°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 13.40°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 29.40 in | in |
| Snowfall | 27.70 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 257 | |
| Humidity | 68.00% | 70.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 1 minutes of each other.
Madison scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Madison leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Madison | Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 21 min | 22 min |
| Transit Score | 62.0/100 | 40.0/100 |
| Walkability | 68.0/100 | 49.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 38.00 | 50.00 |
| Car Dependency | Medium | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Cincinnati is the larger city
— approximately 0.9x the population of Madison.
From a growth perspective, Madison is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Madison has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Madison | Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 269,840 | 314,915 |
| Pop. Growth | 1.10% | 0.70% |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 33.2 |
| Unemployment | 2.80% | 3.20% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Madison
Advantages
Consistently ranked among the top U.S. cities for bicycling and walkability per datausa.io
Thriving job market with low unemployment driven by tech, biotech, and education
Exceptional outdoor recreation access with five lakes and over 200 public parks
World-class healthcare infrastructure anchored by UW Health and major regional medical centers
Vibrant cultural, culinary, and arts scene highlighted by the historic Dane County Farmers' Market
Drawbacks
Competitive housing market with rising rent and home purchase costs per Zillow 2024 data
Cold and snowy winter climate averaging over 27 inches of annual snowfall
Isthmus geography creates natural traffic bottlenecks during peak commuting hours
Higher overall cost of living compared to the Wisconsin state average
High rental demand driven by university enrollment puts pressure on off-campus housing
Cincinnati
Advantages
The cost of living in Cincinnati is 3% lower than the national average, making it more affordable than many major U.S. cities.
Cincinnati boasts a diverse and growing economy, with strong sectors in healthcare, manufacturing, and professional services.
The city offers a vibrant arts and culture scene, including museums, theaters, and a symphony orchestra.
Several neighborhoods, such as Over-The-Rhine and the Central Business District, are highly walkable, with Walk Scores of 94 and 92 respectively.
The median property value in Cincinnati was $230,900 in 2024, significantly lower than the national average, making homeownership more accessible.
Drawbacks
While some areas are highly walkable, the city's overall Walk Score of 49 indicates a car-dependent environment for most errands.
Public transportation, while available, is not considered the most dependable, often necessitating a personal vehicle.
The city's poverty rate was 25.5% in 2024, which is higher than the national average.
Cincinnati experiences extreme seasonal variations in humidity, with muggy summers and very cold, snowy winters.
The average commute time in the Cincinnati metropolitan area was 2 hours daily in 2023, which is relatively long compared to some other cities.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Madison
#186Wisconsin, USA
64.2 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,650
Avg Salary
$71,000
Cost Index
104
Commute
21 min
Transit Score
62.0/100
Walkability
68.0/100
Sunny Days
257/yr
Avg Temp
48.60°F
Pop. Growth
1.10%
Unemployment
2.80%
Livability
83
Business
75
Cincinnati
#501Ohio, USA
52.6 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,410
Avg Salary
$79,000
Cost Index
103
Commute
22 min
Transit Score
40.0/100
Walkability
49.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.70%
Unemployment
3.20%
Livability
70
Business
72
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