City Comparison
Madison vs Grants Pass
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Madison scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Madison
Grants Pass
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Grants Pass is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
1% lower than in Madison.
Housing costs are a major driver: Madison's average rent is
14% higher than Grants Pass's.
| Metric | Madison | Grants Pass | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,650 | $1,450 | +14% |
| Groceries | $420 | $450 | -7% |
| Utilities | $175 | $400 | -56% |
| Transport | $110 | $120 | -8% |
| Healthcare | $230 | $150 | +53% |
| Monthly Total | $2,585 | $2,570 | +1% |
| Cost Index | 104 | 112 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Madison offers 10% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Madison delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Madison is estimated at
$58,000 vs $58,000 in Grants Pass.
| Metric | Madison | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $71,000 | $64,331 |
| Salary Needed | $58,000 | $58,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 68,269 idx | 57,438 idx |
| Household Income | $79,100 | $59,646 |
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 | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| 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% | 74.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Grants Pass has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
1,500 minutes (25 hours) per year compared to Madison.
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 | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 21 min | 18 min |
| Transit Score | 62.0/100 | 27.0/100 |
| Walkability | 68.0/100 | 40.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 38.00 | |
| Car Dependency | Medium | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Madison is the larger city
— approximately 6.7x the population of Grants Pass.
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 | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 269,840 | 40,051 |
| Pop. Growth | 1.10% | 0.90% |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 40.8 |
| Unemployment | 2.80% | 5.60% |
| 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
Grants Pass
Advantages
Access to world-class outdoor recreation on the Rogue River, including rafting and fishing.
More sunny days and a warmer, drier climate compared to much of western Oregon.
Housing is comparatively more affordable than larger West Coast cities and some other Oregon metros.
A growing arts and food scene in a walkable, historic downtown.
Friendly community atmosphere appealing to families and retirees.
Drawbacks
Overall crime rate is significantly higher than the national average, particularly due to property crime.
Limited high-wage job opportunities compared to larger economic centers.
Air quality can be impacted by wildfire smoke during certain seasons.
Presence of a significant homeless population in the downtown core.
High car dependency due to minimal public transportation options.
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
Grants Pass
#584Oregon, USA
45.2 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,450
Avg Salary
$64,331
Cost Index
112
Commute
18 min
Transit Score
27.0/100
Walkability
40.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.90%
Unemployment
5.60%
Livability
70
Business
60
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