Janesville vs Madison
Janesville, 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.
Janesville edges out Madison on overall objective livability (48 vs 44 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Janesville | Madison |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $69k | $75k |
| Cost of Living | $45k | $50k |
| Home Value | $187k | $327k |
| Monthly Rent | $993 | $1k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $1k | $2k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.86% | 1.91% |
| Income Tax | 7.60% | 7.60% |
| Sales Tax | 5.70% | 5.70% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 14.54% | 17.83% |
| Unemployment | 4.1% | 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 | 36.6 in | 38.5 in |
| Sunny Days | 184 days | 212 days |
| Summer Humidity | 63°F | 62°F |
| Comfortable Days | 97 days | 93 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 34.4 | 60.4 |
| Air Quality | 50 AQI | 56 AQI |
| School Quality | 55.0 | 76.5 |
| Violent Crime | 857/100k | 917/100k |
| Property Crime | 1966/100k | 2410/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 65,669 | 268,516 |
| Median Age | 39.5 | 31.6 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.22 | 0.42 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.98 | 1.01 |
| Political Leaning | D+11 | D+54 |
| White (%) | 86.2% | 71.5% |
| Black (%) | 3.3% | 7.2% |
| Hispanic (%) | 5.4% | 7.8% |
| Asian (%) | 1.7% | 8.3% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 3.3% | 5.1% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 21 min | 20 min |
| Walkability | 14.1/20 | 16.3/20 |
| Airport Distance | 59 mi | 77 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 87.1% | 90.2% |
| Amenities Nearby | 25.43 | 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 Janesville or Madison more affordable?
- Janesville has the lower cost of living: its index is $45k, compared with Janesville's $45k and Madison's $50k. Median rent is $993 in Janesville versus $1k in Madison.
- Is Janesville or Madison safer?
- Janesville has the lower violent crime rate. Janesville reports 857/100k and Madison reports 917/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Janesville or Madison?
- The median home value is $187k in Janesville and $327k in Madison, so homes are more affordable in Janesville.