Auburn, AL vs Madison, AL

Auburn is moderately more affordable than Madison, with a 14% lower cost of living index. Auburn scores 90 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 Auburn is $1,034/month compared to $1,375/month in Madison — a 25% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Auburn is more affordable at $342,400 median vs $367,900.

Median household income in Auburn is $56,123 compared to $131,436 in Madison (-57.3%). 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 Auburn spend roughly 22.1% of their income on rent, more than the 12.6% in Madison.

Climate-wise, Auburn is notably warmer with an average of 66.6°F compared to 62.9°F in Madison. Madison receives more rainfall at 54.3" per year compared to 48.8" in Auburn.