Madison, NJ vs Morris Plains, NJ

Morris Plains is moderately more affordable than Madison, with a 5.3% lower cost of living index. Madison scores 180 compared to 171 for Morris Plains, 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 Madison is $2,248/month compared to $2,686/month in Morris Plains — a 16% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Madison has cheaper rent, Morris Plains actually has lower median home values ($609,700 vs $882,900).

Median household income in Madison is $168,469 compared to $149,623 in Morris Plains (+12.6%). 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 16% of their income on rent, less than the 21.5% in Morris Plains.