01 · the cities
New York
New York is the city that refuses to take a nap. Five boroughs of bodegas, bagels, late-night dollar slices, and entire neighborhoods that switch languages every six blocks. The subway is a 472-station miracle that runs all night, and Central Park is the green lung that keeps Manhattan sane. You will spend more than you planned and love every minute of it.
full dispatch→Madison
Madison sits on an isthmus between two lakes, with the state capitol gleaming on one end and the University of Wisconsin sprawling on the other. The Saturday farmers market around the Capitol Square is one of the best in the country. Cheese curds, brats, and beer are mandatory food groups. The Terrace at Memorial Union, looking out at Lake Mendota, is the unofficial heart of the city in summer.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$3,329/mo
$1,673/mo
$1,656/mo less than New York (99%)
Median home price
Median home price
$739k
$465k
$275k less than New York
State income tax
State income tax
10.7%
6.3%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,110/mo
$6,138/mo
Madison has $2,028/mo more gross after rent at $100k
Gross left after rent reflects state income tax but not federal, based on $100k salary. Enter your salary to find your ideal city.
03 · the weather
Pleasant days/yr
Pleasant days/yr
171 days
147 days
24 fewer than New York
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
1 days
0 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
19 days
71 days
days below 20°F per year
Madison drops below 20°F on 52 more days per year than New York.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
78 / 100
67 / 100
11.0 pts behind New York
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
215 routes
11 routes
204 fewer direct routes than New York
Metro size
Metro size
19.5M metro
694k metro
New York has 97.7x more events per month than Madison.
the verdict
4
New York
categories won
4
Madison
categories won
New York wins on weather and lifestyle, Madison wins on money. Dead even.
run your numbers
How far does your New York salary go?
Enter your salary to see a full ranked list of cities where you would live better.
see your top citiesWe use a proprietary blend of data from the US Census, Zillow, Ticketmaster, and more.
Walk Score® is a trademark of Walk Score, a Redfin company. How Walk Score works