Fairfax, VA vs Madison, WI
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Fairfax
70.4
#1102 nationally
Madison
73.1
#790 nationally
Fairfax leads in median household income ($128,708 vs $76,184). Madison leads in cost of living index (109 vs 160). Madison leads in average commute (20.1 min vs 28.5 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Fairfax, VA | Madison, WI |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 70.4 (#1102) | 73.1 (#790) |
| Population | 25,144 | 269,840 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $787,568 | $432,061 |
| Median Household Income | $128,708 | $76,184 |
| Average Commute | 28.5 min | 20.1 min |
| Walk Score | 54 | 48 |
| Crime Level | 2.5 | Moderate-Low |
| School Rating | N/A | 8.2 |
| Cost of Living Index | 160 | 109 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+35.0 | D+51.7 |
C-
70.4 Score
Fairfax, VA
Small Virginia city with local appeal
Median Home
$787,568
Population
25,144
Crime
Low
Walk Score
54
Northeast
View Fairfax, VA →
C
73.1 Score
Madison, WI
Education excellence on the isthmus
Median Home
$432,061
Population
269,840
Crime
Moderate-Low
Schools
A-
Midwest
View Madison, WI →