Madison receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Madison
Columbus
Opportunity
84 · Top 4%
vs83 · Top 6%
Growth
76 · Top 9%
vs63 · Top 28%
Climate
57 · Bottom 16%
vs68 · Top 47%
Physical resilience
91 · Top 4%
vs77 · Top 21%
Housing affordability
86 · Bottom 37%
vs91 · Top 50%
Access
96 · Top 22%
vs99 · Top 3%
Economic stability
92 · Top 5%
vs79 · Top 21%
Measured values
| Metric | Madison | Columbus | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 691,830 | 2,175,788 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $88,804 | $81,945 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $51,478 | $44,770 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 209/sq mi | 454/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $372,400 | $300,800 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,354 | $1,274 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 60.3% | 61.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.0% | 3.3% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.1% | 0.1% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 50.1% | 39.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 10.1% | 12.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 6,711 | 13,239 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 9.7 | 6.1 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 18.6% | -16.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 82°F | 85°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 12°F | 22°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 37.1" | 41.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 14 mi | 4 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 23.2 min | 25.3 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.0 | 36.7 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Madison
Elevated or high exposure: hail.
Columbus
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Full profiles: Madison, WI Metro Area · Columbus, OH Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology