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Wisconsin city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Madison?

What it costs to live in Madison, and how it compares with other Wisconsin cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

33

51st best value in Wisconsin

How much you get for what you pay, versus other Wisconsin cities.

Overall livability

49

31st overall in Wisconsin

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Madison is home to about 265,447 people. A typical home runs $277,800 and a household earns around $70,500, a price-to-income ratio of 3.9. Among Wisconsin's largest cities, it ranks 51st for value and 31st overall.

Madison at a glance

Median home price

$277,800

55th in WI of 57

Median rent

$1,212/mo

Median household income

$70,500

Home price to income

3.9x

Unemployment

2.7%

17th in WI of 57

School rating

6/10

22nd in WI of 57

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in WI of 57

Walk score

32/100

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‹ See all top Wisconsin cities ranked  ยท  Wisconsin state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within Wisconsin only. Updated 2026.