Residential comparison · 13 facts
Kenosha, WI vs Madison, WI
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in Kenosha needs about $93,500 in Madison to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from Madison, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $76,500 in Kenosha.
A few differences
- Kenosha is lower on property tax rate (1.61% vs 1.9%).
- Madison is lower on sales tax (5.5% vs 5.7%).
- Kenosha is lower on groceries index (96 vs 101).
Kenosha vs Madison · facet by facet
| Facet | Kenosha, WI | Madison, WI |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $225,200 | $420,000 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $1,160/mo | $1,750/mo |
| Property tax rate | 1.61% | 1.9% |
| State & local income tax | 3.17% | 3.17% |
| Sales tax | 5.7% | 5.5% |
| Cost of living index | 85 | 101 |
| Groceries index | 96 | 101 |
| Utilities | $155/mo | $150/mo |
| Median household income | $71,239 | $74,000 |
| Unemployment rate | 3% | 2.7% |
| Crime index | 38/100 | 35/100 |
| School rating | 6.7/10 | 7.5/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 190 days | 190 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: Kenosha, WI · Madison, WI
Questions & answers
- Is Kenosha cheaper than Madison?
- Kenosha has the lower day-to-day cost index (85 vs 101 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in Madison equals $85,000 in Kenosha?
- A household earning $85,000 in Kenosha needs about $93,500 in Madison to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of Madison lifestyle costs about $76,500 in Kenosha.