Alabaster, AL vs Madison, AL

Alabaster is moderately more affordable than Madison, with a 10.5% lower cost of living index. Alabaster scores 94 compared to 105 for Madison, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Madison can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Alabaster is $1,375/month compared to $1,375/month in Madison — a 0% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Madison has cheaper rent, Alabaster actually has lower median home values ($242,600 vs $367,900).

Median household income in Alabaster is $90,163 compared to $131,436 in Madison (-31.4%). While Madison is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Alabaster spend roughly 18.3% of their income on rent, more than the 12.6% in Madison.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (64.4°F vs 62.9°F). Alabaster receives more rainfall at 56.2" per year compared to 54.3" in Madison.