Madison vs Racine
Compare Madison, WI and Racine, WI on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Racine is the cheaper metro on paper: ACS median rent runs $985/mo versus $1,228/mo in Madison — a gap of about $243/mo — and HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents show $1,092/mo against $1,372/mo. Across the four public-data screens (cost/climate, work, daily life, community) the metros land close together (242 vs 231 summed points), so the right pick depends on which tradeoffs you can live with.
Their climates screen similarly — summer highs near 83°F and 81°F respectively. If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Racine; if walkable daily life matters more, Madison screens stronger on the walkability proxy (21 vs 18). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Racine leads 64 to 57 on the cost and climate screen.
Both cities are close on the work screen.
Madison leads 45 to 38 on the daily life screen.
Madison leads 64 to 55 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Madison is roughly $119,000 in Racine using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Madison | Racine | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $1,228/mo | $985/mo | Racine |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,372/mo | $1,092/mo | Racine |
| Median home value | $321,000 | $226,000 | Racine |
| State income tax | 7.7% | 7.7% | Tie |
| Average commute | 23.5 min | 25.5 min | Madison |
| Safety score | 63/100 | 65/100 | Racine |
| School score | 9/10 | 4/10 | Madison |
| Walkability estimate | 21/100 | 18/100 | Madison |
| Outdoor score | 5/10 | 5/10 | Tie |
| Restaurants per 100k | 191.8 | 152.2 | Madison |
| Mountain distance | 296 mi | 294 mi | Racine |
| Coast distance | 705 mi | 620 mi | Racine |
What stands out
Madison stronger signals
- Strong food and nightlife amenities score
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
- Ski location within 9 miles
- Strong education proxy
Madison tradeoffs
- Cold winters
Racine stronger signals
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
- Ski location within 16 miles
- More affordable than many peer metros
- Shorter average commute
Racine tradeoffs
- Cold winters
Common questions
Is Madison cheaper than Racine?
On public benchmarks Racine is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $1,228/mo in Madison vs $985/mo in Racine; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,372/mo vs $1,092/mo; state income tax is 7.7% vs 7.7%.
Is Madison or Racine safer?
Racine screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 63/100 for Madison and 65/100 for Racine (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Madison or Racine?
School screens show 9/10 for Madison vs 4/10 for Racine, alongside the safety scores above. It is a metro-level screen; verify specific school districts before weighting it heavily.
How different is the climate between Madison and Racine?
Madison: summer highs near 83°F, winter lows near 8°F, disaster-risk band 2/3. Racine: 81°F / 5°F, disaster-risk band 2/3 (NOAA climate normals).
Keep researching
Score this comparison with your own constraints
Public comparison pages use equal-weighted signals. The questionnaire reweights cities around your housing budget, climate preferences, work needs, family needs, and daily-life priorities.
Start City Match