City comparison
Hartford, CT vs Madison, WI
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Hartford, CT are 5.6% higher than in Madison, WI. Someone earning $100,000 in Madison, WI would need about $105,600 in Hartford, CT to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,477 a month in Hartford, CT and $1,482 in Madison, WI.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $3,925 a year in CT and $3,919 in WI.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −11.4% moving from Hartford, CT to Madison, WI ($120,094 → $106,437), while prices change by −5.3%. Net effect of the transfer: −6.4% in real buying power.
- Hartford, CT: price level 102.7 (pricier)
- Madison, WI: price level 97.3 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Hartford, CT | Madison, WI | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 102.7 | 97.3 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $94,687 in Madison | $105,611 in Hartford |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,477/mo | $1,482/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,255 | $75,261 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,925 (CT) | $3,919 (WI) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $59,940 | $58,080 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT MSA and Madison, WI HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT and Madison, WI.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Hartford | Madison |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 110.2 | 99.7 |
| Goods | 97.3 | 93.8 |
| Utilities | 144.9 | 89.8 |
| Other services | 102.7 | 99.4 |
| Overall | 102.7 | 97.3 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Hartford, CT → Madison, WI
Same pay goes further
Buying power +5.6%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$6/yr.
86 Strong offer
Madison, WI → Hartford, CT
Same pay buys less
Buying power −5.3%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$6/yr.
52 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Hartford, CT is in the Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA pay area; Madison, WI is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Hartford, CT to Madison, WI at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Hartford, CT | Madison, WI | Real change, Hartford → Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $69,642 | $61,722 | −6.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $84,260 | $74,678 | −6.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $100,992 | $89,508 | −6.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $120,094 | $106,437 | −6.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $141,915 | $125,776 | −6.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Hartford, CT | Madison, WI | Madison pay in Hartford dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,800 | $63,690 | $67,264 (−15.7%) |
| Software Developers | $132,520 | $130,630 | $137,960 (+4.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $95,940 | $81,130 | $85,682 (−10.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,470 | $101,190 | $106,868 (+5.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.