Performance
Score Breakdown
Madison
Anchorage
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Madison is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately
14% lower compared to Anchorage.
Housing costs are a major driver: Madison's average rent is
10% lower than Anchorage's.
| Metric | Madison | Anchorage | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,760 | $1,950 | -10% |
| Groceries | $550 | $670 | -18% |
| Utilities | $245 | $310 | -21% |
| Transport | $195 | $240 | -19% |
| Healthcare | $440 | $520 | -15% |
| Monthly Total | $3,190 | $3,690 | -14% |
| Cost Index | 103 | 119 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Madison offers 7% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Madison delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Madison is estimated at
$73,000 vs $79,000 in Anchorage.
| Metric | Madison | Anchorage |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $89,500 | $84,000 |
| Salary Needed | $73,000 | $79,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 86,893 idx | 70,588 idx |
| Household Income | $89,100 | $86,500 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Madison runs warmer on average — a 25.4°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Madison comes out ahead with 88 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Anchorage sees 77.4 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Madison | Anchorage |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 62.90°F | 37.50°F |
| Summer High | 89.00°F | 66.00°F |
| Winter Low | 33.00°F | 11.00°F |
| Rainfall | 55.00 in | 16.50 in |
| Snowfall | 1.80 in | 79.20 in |
| Sunny Days | 214 | 126 |
| Humidity | 66.00% | 75.00% |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Anchorage is the larger city
— approximately 0.2x the population of Madison.
From a growth perspective, Madison is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Madison has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Madison | Anchorage |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 61,000 | 291,247 |
| Pop. Growth | 2.40% | 0.70% |
| Median Age | 35.2 | 34.5 |
| Unemployment | 2.40% | 5.20% |
| GDP | $9.8B | $57.0B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Madison
Advantages
High incomes and safety
Drawbacks
Housing costs rising
Anchorage
Advantages
Outdoor lifestyle opportunities
Drawbacks
Higher living costs
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Madison
#1Alabama, USA
91.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,760
Avg Salary
$89,500
Cost Index
103
Sunny Days
214/yr
Avg Temp
62.90°F
Pop. Growth
2.40%
Unemployment
2.40%
Livability
92
Business
89
Anchorage
#4Alaska, USA
84.8 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,950
Avg Salary
$84,000
Cost Index
119
Sunny Days
126/yr
Avg Temp
37.50°F
Pop. Growth
0.70%
Unemployment
5.20%
Livability
87
Business
82
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