Head to head
Cary, NC vs Madison, WI
Madison is cheaper — estimated essentials for a single person run about $247/mo less, and living comfortably there takes roughly $5,000 less in annual salary (taxes included).
It flips for a family. For two adults with a pre-schooler and a school-age child, Cary is the cheaper of the two — rent scales to household size using each city's own bedroom spread, and childcare varies even more sharply between cities than rent does.
| Metric | Cary84 | Madison73 |
|---|---|---|
| Est. monthly cost (single) | $4,229 | $3,982 |
| Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare) | $9,877 | $9,882 |
| Salary for comfort | $78,500/yr | $73,500/yr |
| Typical rent | $1,750 | $1,694 |
| Median home value | $525,200 | $346,900 |
| Median household income | $129,399 | $76,983 |
| Unemployment | 2.9% | 3.0% |
| Housing score | 78 | 54 |
| Jobs score | 90 | 84 |
| Safety score | 97 | 83 |
| Climate score | 100 | 65 |
| Amenities score | 45 | 50 |
| Population | 176.7K | 275.6K |
| Summer high / winter low | 90° / 31° | 82° / 11° |
Fit scores use the reference profile (single, $6,700/mo gross, default weights). Green marks the better value per row.
Cary, NC
Madison, WI