Madison, MS vs Starkville, MS

The cost of living difference between Madison, MS and Starkville, MS is dramatic. Starkville is 42% cheaper than Madison, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Madison has a cost index of 113 while Starkville sits at 80, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Madison is $1,798/month compared to $875/month in Starkville — a 106% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Starkville is more affordable at $265,900 median vs $334,700.

Median household income in Madison is $120,918 compared to $39,751 in Starkville (+204.2%). 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 17.8% of their income on rent, less than the 26.4% in Starkville.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (66°F vs 63.6°F). Starkville receives more rainfall at 57.7" per year compared to 51.3" in Madison.