Head to Head
Madison, WI vs Washington, DC
Madison leads with a Fun Score of 94, ahead by 1 point. Across 23 individual factors, Madison wins 9 and Washington wins 14.
- Factor wins — Madison
- 9 of 23
- Tied
- 0
- Factor wins — Washington
- 14 of 23
| Factor | Madison, WI | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| What lifts the score | ||
| Eats | 74 | 86 Best |
| Drinks | 84 | 86 Best |
| Coffee | 76 | 88 Best |
| Live Music | 71 | 83 Best |
| Star Power | 58 | 91 Best |
| Outdoors | 88 Best | 77 |
| Culture | 68 | 76 Best |
| Events | 42 | 88 Best |
| Sports | 40 | 91 Best |
| Unique Hangouts | 90 Best | 66 |
| City Vibe | 58 Best | 54 |
| Climate | 25 | 65 Best |
| Transit Quality | 78 | 92 Best |
| Walkability | 83 | 86 Best |
| Higher Education | 90 Best | 44 |
| Bike & Micromobility | 89 | 90 Best |
| What weighs it down (lower score = better) | ||
| Crime | 24 Best | 71 |
| Traffic | 18 Best | 88 |
| Air Quality | 49 | 35 Best |
| Disaster Risk | 28 Best | 52 |
| Weather Extremes | 89 | 32 Best |
| Economic Strain | 29 Best | 74 |
| Going-Out Cost | 8 Best | 35 |
Scores are 0–100 percentile ranks. For drawback factors (crime, traffic, etc.) a lower number is better — the Best badge marks whichever city has less. Full methodology →