City comparison
No. Madison's crime index is 91 versus 293 in Albuquerque, and its violent crime index is 68 versus 320, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Albuquerque is cheaper. Median rent is $1,145 a month versus $1,413 in Madison.
Safety is where Albuquerque and Madison split most clearly. Madison scores 202 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,145 in Albuquerque and $1,413 in Madison.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Albuquerque costs less and Madison pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Albuquerque at $1,145 average has pockets that run $945 and others at $1,545: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Albuquerque and Madison are 1,074 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,145 a month in Albuquerque to $1,413 a month in Madison, up $268 a month (23%).
Median household income goes from $68,317 in Albuquerque to $78,050 in Madison, up $9,733 (14%).
The crime index goes from 293 in Albuquerque to 91 in Madison, down 202 points (69%).
The move
Madison and Albuquerque are 1,074 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,413 a month in Madison to $1,145 a month in Albuquerque, down $268 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $78,050 in Madison to $68,317 in Albuquerque, down $9,733 (12%).
The crime index goes from 91 in Madison to 293 in Albuquerque, up 202 points (222%).
Albuquerque, NM
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Madison, WI
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Albuquerque and Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
19% cheaper
Albuquerque rent is 19% cheaper than Madison
Albuquerque
Winner$1,145/mo
Madison
$1,413/mo
Typical rent runs $1,145 a month in Albuquerque versus $1,413 in Madison, so Albuquerque is 19% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $3,216, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Albuquerque still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Madison.
Planning to buy in Albuquerque? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
14% higher
Madison's median income is 14% higher than Albuquerque
Albuquerque
$68,317
Madison
Winner$78,050
Median household income is $78,050 in Madison versus $68,317 in Albuquerque, so typical pay runs 14% higher in Madison (about $9,733 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Madison is the stronger labor market on paper. Albuquerque can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
69% lower crime
Madison's crime index is 69% lower than Albuquerque
Albuquerque
293 (100 = avg)
Madison
Winner91 (100 = avg)
Madison's crime index is 91 versus 293 in Albuquerque (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 69% lower in Madison. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Madison is the easier city. Albuquerque can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
65% more comfortable
Albuquerque weather is 65% more comfortable than Madison
Albuquerque
Winner60°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 86/100
Madison
48°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 52/100
Albuquerque averages about 60°F (66°F highs); Madison averages about 48°F (57°F highs). Albuquerque averages around 60°F. Madison averages around 48°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Albuquerque scores 65% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Madison if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Albuquerque is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 19% cheaper here at about $1,145 a month. Choose Albuquerque if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Albuquerque if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (60°F) beat Madison on this page's weather index by 65%. Madison may pay more or cost less, but Albuquerque is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Madison is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 14% higher here ($78,050). Start with Madison if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Madison is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 69% lower than Albuquerque (91 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Safety is the widest gap: Madison scores 63/100 versus 27/100 in Albuquerque. Rent is $1,413/month in Madison and $1,145/month in Albuquerque, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Safety still diverges (63/100 in Madison vs 27/100 in Albuquerque), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,145 in Albuquerque and $1,413 in Madison.
Between Albuquerque and Madison, Madison is ahead on safety — 63/100 safety versus 27/100. Lean Albuquerque instead when you already know the Albuquerque block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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