Decatur, AR vs Madison, AR

Madison is moderately more affordable than Decatur, with a 8.7% lower cost of living index. Decatur scores 67 compared to 61 for Madison, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Decatur can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Decatur is $759/month compared to $845/month in Madison — a 10% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Decatur has cheaper rent, Madison actually has lower median home values ($57,200 vs $141,800).

Median household income in Decatur is $43,239 compared to $60,809 in Madison (-28.9%). Madison offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Decatur spend roughly 21.1% of their income on rent, more than the 16.7% in Madison.