Madison, WI vs Wheeling, 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
Wheeling
77.3
#265 nationally
Madison leads in average commute (20.1 min vs 26.6 min). Madison leads in walk score (48 vs 44). Wheeling leads in median household income ($80,054 vs $76,184).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Madison, WI | Wheeling, IL |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 73.1 (#790) | 77.3 (#265) |
| Population | 269,840 | 37,725 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $432,061 | $321,656 |
| Median Household Income | $76,184 | $80,054 |
| Average Commute | 20.1 min | 26.6 min |
| Walk Score | 48 | 44 |
| Crime Level | Moderate-Low | 1.7 |
| School Rating | 8.2 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 109 | 104 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+51.7 | D+42.0 |
C
73.1 Score
Madison, WI
Education excellence on the isthmus
Median Home
$432,061
Population
269,840
Crime
Moderate-Low
Schools
A-
Midwest
View Madison, WI →
C+
77.3 Score
Wheeling, IL
Small Illinois city with local appeal
Median Home
$321,656
Population
37,725
Crime
Low
Walk Score
44
Midwest
View Wheeling, IL →
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