Madison, WI vs Pekin, IL
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.
Madison
73.1
#790 nationally
Pekin
80.5
#73 nationally
Madison leads in median household income ($76,184 vs $52,507). Pekin leads in cost of living index (88 vs 109). Madison leads in walk score (48 vs 39).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Madison, WI | Pekin, IL |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 73.1 (#790) | 80.5 (#73) |
| Population | 269,840 | 31,126 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $432,061 | $145,264 |
| Median Household Income | $76,184 | $52,507 |
| Average Commute | 20.1 min | 21.8 min |
| Walk Score | 48 | 39 |
| Crime Level | Moderate-Low | 10.8 |
| School Rating | 8.2 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 109 | 88 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+51.7 | R+26.7 |
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 →
B-
80.5 Score
Pekin, IL
Small Illinois city with local appeal
Median Home
$145,264
Population
31,126
Crime
Moderate-High
Walk Score
39
Midwest
View Pekin, IL →