Madison WI
Wisconsin · Pop. 278,001
Madison, WI: median household income of $78,050, median rent of $1,413/mo, 2.7% unemployment. Our verdict: Solid Choice.
Score Breakdown
Key Metrics
Median Income
$78,050
per year
Median Rent
$1,413
per month
Median Home
$373k
home value
Unemployment
2.7%
of labor force
Poverty Rate
16.4%
below poverty line
Avg. Commute
19 min
one way
City Reality Check balanced
"Madison, WI Reality Check"
In Madison, the rent-to-income burden runs around 22% — refreshingly manageable by national standards. Median income sits at $78,050 and median rent is $1,413/month. 48% of renters are cost-burdened (30%+ of income on housing). Landlords are winning; everyone else is treading water. Median home value: $372,900 — that's 4.8× the median income. 60% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — a highly educated workforce that drives (and inflates) this local economy. Employment picture: 2.65% unemployment — a tight labor market. Poverty rate: 16.4%. Average commute: 19 minutes — mercifully short. Violent crime: 27.2/100k avg monthly rate (3461 reported); Property crime: 212.9/100k avg monthly rate (27071 reported). Madison was founded in 1836 — that's 190 years of history baked into the streets. The city covers 21.4 sq miles at 12,997 people/sq mile — densely packed. Elevation: 2,864 ft — high-altitude living. Madison has 11 sister cities — cosmopolitan on paper, at least. RoastMyCity overall score: 71/100 — Solid Choice.
Local Context
Safety
/100Violent crime: 27.2/100k avg monthly rate (3461 reported); Property crime: 212.9/100k avg monthly rate (27071 reported).