City vs city
Anchorage, AK vs Madison, WI
- Rent is 5% lower in Madison (median $1,413/mo vs $1,489/mo in Anchorage).
- Homes cost 6% less in Madison ($373k vs $396k median value).
- On a $75k salary, you'd have about $140 more a month after taxes and rent in Anchorage.
- Anchorage has no state income tax on wages; Madison does.
- Schools rate higher in Anchorage (5.6/10 vs 4.4/10).
- Madison has less violent crime (2.1 vs 10.3 per 1,000 residents; the US rate is 3.6).
- Madison gets more sun (188 vs 142 sunny days a year).
| Anchorage | Madison | |
|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,489/mo | $1,413/mo |
| Median home value | $396k | $373k |
| Median household income | $103k | $78k |
| Left each month on $75k (after taxes and rent) | $3,644 | $3,504 |
| State income tax on wages | None | Yes |
| School rating | 5.6/10 | 4.4/10 |
| Violent crime | 2.9× the US rate | 42% below the US rate |
| Summer average | 68°F | 82°F |
| Winter average | 15°F | 19°F |
| Sunny days a year | 142 | 188 |
| Walk score | 38 | 49 |
| Population | 288,976 | 278,001 |
Population, income, home value and rent: U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Taxes: single filer, 2026 federal and state rates, before any city income tax. Violent crime per 1,000 residents; US rate 3.6.
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