Beloit vs Madison
Beloit, Wisconsin versus Madison, Wisconsin: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Beloit edges out Madison on overall objective livability (48 vs 44 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Beloit | Madison |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $57k | $75k |
| Cost of Living | $45k | $50k |
| Home Value | $122k | $327k |
| Monthly Rent | $957 | $1k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $1k | $2k |
| Property Tax Rate | 2.03% | 1.91% |
| Income Tax | 7.60% | 7.60% |
| Sales Tax | 5.70% | 5.70% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 13.82% | 17.83% |
| Unemployment | 6.0% | 2.6% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 21°F | 20°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 73°F | 72°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.4 in | 39.0 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 35.6 in | 38.5 in |
| Sunny Days | 184 days | 212 days |
| Summer Humidity | 63°F | 62°F |
| Comfortable Days | 99 days | 93 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 40.5 | 60.4 |
| Air Quality | 50 AQI | 56 AQI |
| School Quality | 75.5 | 76.5 |
| Violent Crime | 1789/100k | 917/100k |
| Property Crime | 2110/100k | 2410/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 36,642 | 268,516 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 31.6 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.55 | 0.42 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.96 | 1.01 |
| Political Leaning | D+11 | D+54 |
| White (%) | 59.1% | 71.5% |
| Black (%) | 12.8% | 7.2% |
| Hispanic (%) | 21.5% | 7.8% |
| Asian (%) | 1.0% | 8.3% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 5.5% | 5.1% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 22 min | 20 min |
| Walkability | 14.0/20 | 16.3/20 |
| Airport Distance | 64 mi | 77 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 85.6% | 90.2% |
| Amenities Nearby | 28.66 | 31.66 |
| Park & Nature Access | Good | Moderate |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Beloit or Madison more affordable?
- Beloit has the lower cost of living: its index is $45k, compared with Beloit's $45k and Madison's $50k. Median rent is $957 in Beloit versus $1k in Madison.
- Is Beloit or Madison safer?
- Madison has the lower violent crime rate. Beloit reports 1789/100k and Madison reports 917/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Beloit or Madison?
- The median home value is $122k in Beloit and $327k in Madison, so homes are more affordable in Beloit.