Performance
Score Breakdown
Madison
Vestavia Hills
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Madison is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately
16% lower compared to Vestavia Hills.
Housing costs are a major driver: Madison's average rent is
31% lower than Vestavia Hills's.
| Metric | Madison | Vestavia Hills | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,358 | $1,975 | -31% |
| Groceries | $450 | $425 | +6% |
| Utilities | $223 | $180 | +24% |
| Transport | $150 | $150 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $200 | $120 | +67% |
| Monthly Total | $2,381 | $2,850 | -16% |
| Cost Index | 96 | 124 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Vestavia Hills offers 17% lower 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
$55,000 vs $62,960 in Vestavia Hills.
| Metric | Madison | Vestavia Hills |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $56,185 | $68,012 |
| Salary Needed | $55,000 | $62,960 |
| Purchasing Power | 58,526 idx | 54,848 idx |
| Household Income | $134,655 | $134,369 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Madison | Vestavia Hills |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | 70.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 1 minutes of each other.
Vestavia Hills scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Vestavia Hills leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Madison | Vestavia Hills |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 20 min | 19 min |
| Transit Score | 10.0/10 | 20.0/10 |
| Walkability | 17.0/10 | 22.0/10 |
| Traffic Index | 50.00 | 45.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Madison is the larger city
— approximately 1.7x the population of Vestavia Hills.
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 | Vestavia Hills |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 64,029 | 38,616 |
| Pop. Growth | 4.40% | 2.48% |
| Median Age | 37.3 | 41.7 |
| Unemployment | 2.00% | 2.60% |
| GDP | $0.0B | $0.0B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
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.
Vestavia Hills
Advantages
Vestavia Hills boasts a top-rated public school system, consistently ranked among the best in Alabama.
The city offers a high quality of life with abundant recreational parks, green spaces, and community events.
Vestavia Hills is considered a very safe community with a high safety score and low violent crime rates.
Residents benefit from a relatively short average commute time of 19.3 minutes.
The median household income of $134,369 in 2024 is significantly higher than the national average.
Drawbacks
The cost of living in Vestavia Hills is 24% higher than the national average, primarily due to high housing costs.
Housing costs, including both renting and buying, are approximately 90% higher than the national average.
The city is largely car-dependent with low walkability (score of 22) and minimal public transit options.
Employment in Vestavia Hills experienced a decline of -1.89% from 2023 to 2024.
Natural gas prices in Vestavia Hills averaged $23.38 per thousand cubic feet in November 2024, which was approximately 56.6% more than the U.S. average.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Madison
#2Alabama, USA
82.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,358
Avg Salary
$56,185
Cost Index
96
Commute
20 min
Transit Score
10.0/10
Walkability
17.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
4.40%
Unemployment
2.00%
Livability
76
Business
78
Vestavia Hills
#3Alabama, USA
80.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,975
Avg Salary
$68,012
Cost Index
124
Commute
19 min
Transit Score
20.0/10
Walkability
22.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
2.48%
Unemployment
2.60%
Livability
88
Business
75
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