Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Madison to Phoenix
Based on 2024 ACS 5-year estimates, Madison has a lower median household income ($78,050) than Phoenix ($81,332), but also lower housing costs—median gross rent is $1,413 vs. $1,582 and median home value is $372,900 vs. $420,700. Madison residents enjoy a shorter average commute (21 minutes) compared to Phoenix (28 minutes). While Phoenix applies a modeled 2.50% state individual income tax in the calculator, Madison’s tax rate is excluded per data boundaries. These trade-offs reflect differing cost-of-living, earnings, and time allocation patterns.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Phoenix → MadisonMoving from Madison to Phoenix
Median Rent Impact
+$169/mo
Moving to Phoenix costs ~$2,028 more/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
+2.5%
~$2,500 more state tax on a $100k salary in Arizona.
Daily Commute Difference
+7 min / day
Difference of ~58 hours per year spent commuting based on 2024 ACS midpoint averages.
Your move
Compare the life behind the offer.
Adjust the assumptions. Every result updates instantly.
Search all 32,330 U.S. Census places directly below.Instant results use official 2024 ACS place data. Places with incomplete required signals remain visible in search but cannot be selected.
Directional estimate using ACS citywide benchmarks. Verified profiles may include a simplified state-tax reference; automatically added profiles exclude state tax until an official reference is approved. Exact tax, benefits, debt, housing, insurance, and personal circumstances may materially change the result.
LIVE VERDICTMAD → PHX
54/ 100
A close, nuanced move
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$7,556after essentials; unverified state tax excluded
Best gainA balanced income-to-rent profile with a low flat state-tax reference
Watch closelyThe $420,700 home-value benchmark is materially above Dallas despite similar commute time
The short answer
In the uniform one-person renting baseline, Madison is about $2,028 lower per year. This is not a verdict by itself: replace city medians with the actual offer, address, household, benefits, insurance, and tax details before deciding.
Madison household income$78,050
Phoenix household income$81,332
Madison gross rent$1,413
Phoenix gross rent$1,582
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Madison | Phoenix |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 278,001 | 1,642,323 |
| Median household income | $78,050 | $81,332 |
| Median gross rent | $1,413 | $1,582 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $372,900 | $420,700 |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded | 2.5% simplified |
Time and daily routine
The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 21 minutes in Madison and 28 minutes in Phoenix. This citywide estimate cannot capture a specific route, remote-work schedule, or transit choice, so the calculator converts it into an explicit time difference instead of hiding it in a subjective lifestyle score.
Decision checklist
- Median household income
- Median gross rent
- Median owner-occupied home value
- Average one-way commute time
What each city wins
Madison
Median rent is 21.7% of median income.. Watch higher home values may reflect long-term equity potential despite monthly costs..
Phoenix
A balanced income-to-rent profile with a low flat state-tax reference. Watch the $420,700 home-value benchmark is materially above dallas despite similar commute time.
Frequently asked questions
How do housing costs compare between Madison and Phoenix?
Madison has lower median gross rent at $1,413 per month and lower median home value at $372,900, compared to Phoenix’s $1,582 rent and $420,700 home value, based on 2024 ACS 5-year data.
Which city has a shorter average commute, and by how much?
Madison has a shorter average one-way commute at 21 minutes, which is 7 minutes less than Phoenix’s 28-minute average, derived from 2024 ACS table B08303.
Source boundary: Core figures come from the 2024 ACS five-year tables linked on each city profile. Commute is derived from B08303 midpoint weighting. A state-tax value without an approved official reference is excluded and disclosed. This comparison becomes index-eligible only after its unique analysis clears the content quality gate.