City Comparison
Newcastle vs Madison
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Newcastle scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Newcastle
Madison
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
| Metric | Newcastle | Madison | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $0 | $1,358 | -100% |
| Groceries | $0 | $450 | -100% |
| Utilities | $0 | $223 | -100% |
| Transport | $0 | $150 | -100% |
| Healthcare | $0 | $200 | -100% |
| Monthly Total | $0 | $2,381 | -100% |
| Cost Index | 96 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Madison offers 28% lower average salaries.
| Metric | Newcastle | Madison |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $40,332 | $56,185 |
| Salary Needed | $0 | $55,000 |
| Household Income | $82,734 | $134,655 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Newcastle | Madison |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | % | 70.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Madison has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
3,500 minutes (58 hours) per year compared to Newcastle.
Madison scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Madison leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Newcastle | Madison |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 27 min | 20 min |
| Transit Score | — | 10.0/100 |
| Walkability | — | 17.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 50.00 | |
| Car Dependency | Medium | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Madison is the larger city
— approximately 0.1x the population of Newcastle.
From a growth perspective, Madison is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Newcastle has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Newcastle | Madison |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,349 | 64,029 |
| Pop. Growth | — | 4.40% |
| Median Age | 38.6 | 37.3 |
| Unemployment | 0.40% | 2.00% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Newcastle
Advantages
The cost of living in Newcastle is well below the national average, making it an affordable place to reside.
Newcastle has significantly lower crime rates than both the Wyoming and national averages, contributing to a safe environment.
The housing market in Newcastle is strong, with high scores in affordability and appreciation rates.
The unemployment rate in Newcastle is very low at 0.4% as of 2024, indicating a healthy job market.
Residents of Newcastle enjoy a shorter average commute time to work compared to many other U.S. neighborhoods.
Drawbacks
Amenities in Newcastle are not always within walking distance, requiring residents to often rely on a vehicle.
The health and safety category received a less than perfect score, potentially due to limited accessibility of health-related facilities.
The population of Newcastle has seen a slight decline since the most recent census in 2020.
The percentage of uninsured citizens in Newcastle increased slightly from 2023 to 2024.
While public transit exists, car dependency is likely medium to high due to the sparse suburban feel and limited walkability.
Madison
Advantages
Madison was ranked as the #9 Best Place to Live in the U.S. by Niche in 2025.
The city's overall crime rate is estimated to be 39% below the national average as of 2026, indicating a high level of safety.
The median household income of $134,655 in 2024 is significantly higher than the national average.
Madison's job market is robust, with employment growing by 7.19% from 2023-2024, particularly in the aerospace and technology sectors.
The city is known for its excellent school systems and a highly family-friendly environment.
Drawbacks
Madison exhibits high car dependency with a low walkability score of 17 and very limited public transit options.
Summers in Madison are characterized as long, muggy, and hot, with high humidity levels.
While overall healthcare costs are below the national average, they are slightly above the Alabama state average.
Some southeastern neighborhoods of Madison report higher crime rates compared to the safer central areas.
The median home price of approximately $420,000 in mid-2024 is higher than the average for the state of Alabama.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Newcastle
#1Wyoming, USA
88.8 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$0
Avg Salary
$40,332
Cost Index
Commute
27 min
Transit Score
—
Walkability
—
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
0.40%
Livability
72
Business
0
Madison
#2Alabama, USA
80.5 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,358
Avg Salary
$56,185
Cost Index
96
Commute
20 min
Transit Score
10.0/100
Walkability
17.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
4.40%
Unemployment
2.00%
Livability
76
Business
78
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