| | Madison, WI | Ames, IA | United States |
| Overall | 103.4 | 87.6 | 100 |
| Food & Groceries | 97.9 | 97.3 | 100 |
| Health | 92.9 | 120.8 | 100 |
| Housing | 112.7 | 88.5 | 100 |
| Median Home Cost | $337,500 | $239,100 | $338,100 |
| Utilities | 10,750.0% | 9,860.0% | 10,000.0% |
| Transportation | 85.8 | 67.2 | 100 |
| Miscellaneous | 133.0 | 114.1 | 100 |
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Unfortunately, a number of these reviews are politically based. Madison remains the only shining star in Wisconsin’s economy. The economy is broadly based, with More
Have been living in Madison for almost 3 years. It’s very safe, ppl generally friendly and for a town of its size it has fair number of good restaurants and interesting More
Lacks balance and zero accountability. More
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Hello, I am in San Jose Ca, but am seriously thinking of moving somewhere much slower for a better quality of living. I've just turned 59, so I'm kinda preparing for More
Like every other city Ames has both good and bad points. The good points are: low cost of living, very friendly people, lots of outdoor activities and quite a few events More
Ames enjoys a high quality of life at a very affordable cost, substantially lower than many other communities. The presence of Iowa State University, a large (28,000 More
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