Clay Center, NE vs Madison, NE

Clay Center is moderately more affordable than Madison, with a 5.1% lower cost of living index. Clay Center scores 63 compared to 66 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 Clay Center is $620/month compared to $818/month in Madison — a 24% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Clay Center has cheaper rent, Madison actually has lower median home values ($116,000 vs $148,300).

Median household income in Clay Center is $75,833 compared to $56,932 in Madison (+33.2%). Clay Center offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Clay Center spend roughly 9.8% of their income on rent, less than the 17.2% in Madison.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (51.9°F vs 49.2°F). Madison receives more rainfall at 27" per year compared to 26.4" in Clay Center.