Madison, WI vs Springfield, 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
Springfield
79.7
#112 nationally
Madison leads in walk score (48 vs 38). Madison leads in median household income ($76,184 vs $62,419). Springfield leads in cost of living index (92 vs 109).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Madison, WI | Springfield, IL |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 73.1 (#790) | 79.7 (#112) |
| Population | 269,840 | 112,544 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $432,061 | $174,630 |
| Median Household Income | $76,184 | $62,419 |
| Average Commute | 20.1 min | 17.6 min |
| Walk Score | 48 | 38 |
| Crime Level | Moderate-Low | 24.7 |
| School Rating | 8.2 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 109 | 92 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+51.7 | R+5.0 |
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 →
C+
79.7 Score
Springfield, IL
Mid-size Illinois city with community character
Median Home
$174,630
Population
112,544
Crime
High
Walk Score
38
Midwest
View Springfield, IL →
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