Lead, SD vs Madison, SD

Lead, SD and Madison, SD have a very similar cost of living, with only a 1% difference in their overall index. Lead scores 73 while Madison scores 74 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Lead is $844/month compared to $874/month in Madison — a 3% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Lead has cheaper rent, Madison actually has lower median home values ($191,400 vs $192,800).

Median household income in Lead is $57,348 compared to $62,180 in Madison (-7.8%). 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 Lead spend roughly 17.7% of their income on rent, more than the 16.9% in Madison.

Climate-wise, Madison is notably warmer with an average of 45.1°F compared to 41.1°F in Lead. Madison receives more rainfall at 29.6" per year compared to 29.2" in Lead.