Madison, AL vs Pelham, AL

Madison, AL and Pelham, AL have a very similar cost of living, with only a 2% difference in their overall index. Madison scores 105 while Pelham scores 103 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 Madison is $1,375/month compared to $1,573/month in Pelham — a 13% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Madison has cheaper rent, Pelham actually has lower median home values ($278,900 vs $367,900).

Median household income in Madison is $131,436 compared to $91,904 in Pelham (+43%). 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 Madison spend roughly 12.6% of their income on rent, less than the 20.5% in Pelham.

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