Is private school cheaper in Cambridge or Madison?

Madison has lower average private school tuition at $9,300/year vs $32,000/year in Cambridge. That's $22,700/year less, or $295,100 over a K-12 career.

How much can I save on private school by choosing Madison over Cambridge?

Average tuition in Madison is $22,700/year less than Cambridge. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $295,100 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $17,300/year in Cambridge, $6,300/year in Madison.

How do Cambridge and Madison private school costs compare to the national average?

The national average private school tuition is $12,350/year. Cambridge averages $32,000/year ($19,650 above average). Madison averages $9,300/year ($3,050 below average).

Private School Cost: Cambridge vs Madison

Madison averages $22,700/year less for private school (244% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $295,100 per child.

Bottom Line

Madison is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $9,300/year vs $32,000/year in Cambridge. Religious schools run $6,300/year on the low end.

Cambridge

$32,000

avg tuition/year

$19,650 above national avg

Madison

$9,300

avg tuition/year

$3,050 below national avg

Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Cambridge	Madison	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$32,000/yr	$9,300/yr	+$22,700
Religious Schools	$17,300/yr	$6,300/yr	+$11,000
Independent/Prep	$65,000/yr	$21,100/yr	+$43,900
Elementary (K-5)	$27,200/yr	$7,900/yr	+$19,300
Middle School (6-8)	$32,000/yr	$9,300/yr	+$22,700
High School (9-12)	$38,400/yr	$11,200/yr	+$27,200

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Cambridge

$416,000

Madison

$120,900

Choosing Madison saves $295,100 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $590,200.

Sample Schools

Cambridge

Cambridge School of Weston

Independent · 9–12 · $59,400/yr

Buckingham Browne & Nichols School

Independent · PK–12 · $58,800/yr

Madison

Edgewood Campus School

Catholic · PK–8 · $10,400-$12,800/yr

Edgewood High School of the Sacred Heart

Catholic · 9–12 · $13,200/yr

Full Cambridge breakdown → Full Madison breakdown →

Massachusetts private school costs Wisconsin private school costs

About This Comparison

This comparison uses NCES Private School Universe Survey data, adjusted for metro-level cost-of-living differences. "Average tuition" blends religious schools (Catholic, Christian) and independent day/prep schools. Religious schools typically cost 60-70% less than independent schools in the same city.

Grade-level estimates (elementary, middle, high) are derived from the city average using national grade-level multipliers. High school tuition typically runs 15-25% above the city average; elementary runs 10-20% below.