City Profile

Madison, Wisconsin

USA · Comprehensive city data and intelligence

Overall Score

Madison, the capital city of Wisconsin and home to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, is renowned for its picturesque isthmus geography nestled between Lakes Mendota and Monona. Founded in 1836 as the territorial capital, the city has evolved into a vibrant hub of progressive politics, intellectual energy, and high-tech innovation. People are drawn to Madison for its exceptional quality of life, which seamlessly blends the cultural amenities of a major urban center with the welcoming, tight-knit feel of the Midwest.

About Wisconsin

Wisconsin, located in the Upper Midwest, is characterized by its diverse landscapes, including Great Lakes shorelines, dense forests, and rolling hills, fostering a strong connection to outdoor recreation and a friendly, community-oriented lifestyle. The state's economy is robust, driven primarily by manufacturing, agriculture (especially dairy, earning it the nickname "America's Dairyland"), and a significant tourism sector. Living in Wisconsin generally offers a lower cost of living compared to the national average, with housing and groceries often more affordable. The climate features four distinct seasons, with warm summers and cold, snowy winters, providing opportunities for a variety of seasonal activities.

269,840

Population

$71K

Avg Salary

104

Cost Index

64.2

Quality Score

How this 64/100 was calculated five components, with every reading behind them

Component	Readings used	Points	Weight	Contributes
Safety	Safety score: 74 / 100	74.0	30%	22.2
Affordability	Cost of living index (100 = national baseline): 104.0	38.8	25%	9.7
Economy & jobs	Median household income: $79,100 Income needed to live here: $58,000 Unemployment rate: 2.8%	80.2	20%	16.0
Growth	Population growth rate: 1.1% Job growth rate: 2.2%	58.3	15%	8.7
Business climate assessment	Business climate assessment: 75 / 100	75.0	10%	7.5
Overall score				64.2

Provenance. These figures were produced by the research pass recorded as Tier 1 (fast) (q=52, partial — below threshold), last refreshed 17 October 2026. They are researched estimates drawn from public sources, not a licensed data feed.

Each component is scored against fixed published endpoints, so this number is comparable with any other city and does not move as the dataset grows. Scoring framework 2026.10 — full methodology, weights and accepted ranges.

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Thu, Nov 26 · 12:00 AM Alliant Energy Center, Madison

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Performance

Quality Scores

Business

Livability

Affordability

Growth

Expenses

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Madison sits slightly above the national average, primarily driven by strong demand for housing and a growing population. While everyday expenses like groceries and utilities align closely with typical U.S. benchmarks, competitive real estate markets in central neighborhoods elevate overall living costs. Nevertheless, strong local wages and robust economic opportunities help balance these financial demands for most residents.

Average Rent

$1,650/mo

Groceries

$420/mo

Transport

$110/mo

Utilities

$175/mo

Healthcare

$230/mo

Gym membership (monthly)

$50.00

Cinema ticket

$13.00

Restaurant meal (mid-range)

$25.00

Monthly groceries

$420.00

Doctor visit (without insurance)

$160.00

Income

Salary Insights

Madison features a resilient, highly diversified economy anchored by state government administration, higher education, healthcare, and technology. Major employers like the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Epic Systems, and UW Health drive steady job creation and attract top-tier talent from across the nation. The area also boasts a thriving biotech and startup scene, alongside a robust remote work infrastructure that supports digital professionals.

The average salary in Madison is $71,000 per year. You would need approximately $58,000 to live comfortably.

Employment

Top Industries

Educational Services +1.50% Public Administration +1.20% Healthcare and Social Assistance +2.40% Professional and Technical Services +3.00% Manufacturing and Biotech +2.10%

Weather

Climate

🌡️

49°F

Avg Temp

☀️

79°F

Summer High

❄️

13°F

Winter Low

🌧️

29.40"

Annual Rain

💧

68.00%

Humidity

🌤️

257

Sunny Days

Mobility

Transport

Getting around Madison is exceptionally convenient, particularly for cyclists and pedestrians who benefit from extensive infrastructure and dedicated bike lanes. The Metro Transit system provides comprehensive bus service throughout the city and surrounding suburbs, connecting key residential and commercial corridors. While automotive transit is straightforward outside of peak hours, central isthmus traffic can occasionally experience congestion during rush times.

21 min

Avg Commute

62.00/10

Transit Score

68.00/10

Walkability

Medium

Car Dependency

At a Glance

Pros & Cons

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

Head to Head

Compare Madison

Madison VS Grants Pass Madison VS Syracuse Madison VS Binghamton Madison VS Cincinnati

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Nearby Cities

New Berlin

Wauwatosa

West Allis

Milwaukee

Community Q&A

Questions about Madison

What people ask about living in and moving to Madison, Wisconsin.

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Gathering the most common questions about Madison…

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Urblytica benchmarks its Cost of Living Index against a United States national average baseline of 100. A score of 115 means a city is approximately 15% more expensive than the national average, while a score of 85 indicates it is 15% more affordable. This composite calculation is weighted across six primary expenditure categories: housing, utilities, grocery items, transportation, healthcare, and miscellaneous goods.

Urblytica aggregates housing data from multiple authoritative sources, including Multiple Listing Service (MLS) feeds, municipal property tax registries, the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS), and verified historical deed transactions. This multi-tier aggregation ensures precision in tracking median home values and rental rates.

A municipality must meet minimum data-density thresholds—including consistent reporting population samples from the U.S. Census and active residential or commercial real estate transaction feeds—to ensure statistical significance before a complete scoring profile is published.

When primary agencies (such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics or U.S. Census Bureau) issue historical data revisions or benchmark corrections, Urblytica's data pipeline automatically re-indexes affected historical archives to maintain longitudinal trend accuracy.

U.S. affordability calculations incorporate federal income tax brackets, state-specific income tax rates, and local municipal tax variations to evaluate the true net tax drag on median household earnings across different states and cities.

Local county and municipal property tax millage rates are factored directly into the housing component of the cost-of-living index to reflect recurring annual tax burdens for homeowners.

The platform aggregates state sales taxes alongside county and city surtaxes to measure consumer basket purchasing power parity accurately across different retail jurisdictions.

Utility calculations apply regional seasonal consumption weightings, incorporating high summer air conditioning loads in southern states and heavy winter heating demands in northern states.

The index tracks average out-of-pocket healthcare expenses, routine outpatient visit costs, and regional health insurance premium benchmarks published by federal health agencies.

Educational metrics aggregate state standardized testing benchmarks, student-to-teacher ratios, high school graduation rates, and per-pupil expenditure data published by state departments of education.