Uprootmap
Madison vs Dubuque
Madison and Dubuque
Photo: Corey Coyle / Wikimedia, CC BY 3.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Dubuque are under the US rate in this release, 1.6 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Madison to Dubuque
In 2022-2023, 29 households filed a move from Madison to Dubuque (about 46 people, average adjusted gross income $77,034). 69 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,330 in Madison and $806 in Dubuque. Madison has a state tax on wages. Dubuque has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Dubuque is 92% of the national level for the same work, against 100% in Madison.
Dubuque averages 204 sunny days, with July highs around 82°F and January nights around 18°F. Madison is 188 sunny days, 82°F in July, 12°F in January. Commutes average 17 minutes in Dubuque and 21 in Madison.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 29 households moved Madison → Dubuque (about 46 people, average AGI $77,034). 69 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Madison and Dubuque changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 93 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,600–$3,050
- Container or pod
- $1,100–$2,050
- Rent a truck
- $400–$750
Explore more
Dig into Dubuque
Questions
Is Dubuque cheaper than Madison after tax and rent?
Yes. Dubuque leaves about $746 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,330 in Madison and $806 in Dubuque.
Does Dubuque have state income tax?
Dubuque is in Iowa, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Madison to Dubuque?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.