Madison, WI vs Normal, IL
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Madison
73.1
#790 nationally
Normal
76.8
#316 nationally
Madison leads in walk score (48 vs 40). Madison leads in median household income ($76,184 vs $63,965). Normal leads in average commute (17.2 min vs 20.1 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Madison, WI | Normal, IL |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 73.1 (#790) | 76.8 (#316) |
| Population | 269,840 | 52,618 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $432,061 | $269,069 |
| Median Household Income | $76,184 | $63,965 |
| Average Commute | 20.1 min | 17.2 min |
| Walk Score | 48 | 40 |
| Crime Level | Moderate-Low | 9.0 |
| School Rating | 8.2 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 109 | 97 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+51.7 | D+4.9 |
C
73.1 Score
Madison, WI
Education excellence on the isthmus
Median Home
$432,061
Population
269,840
Crime
Moderate-Low
Schools
A-
Midwest
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C
76.8 Score
Normal, IL
Illinois community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$269,069
Population
52,618
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
40
Midwest
View Normal, IL →