City comparison
No. Madison's crime index is 91 versus 143 in Anaheim, and its violent crime index is 68 versus 165, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Madison is cheaper. Median rent is $1,413 a month versus $2,175 in Anaheim.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Anaheim and Madison. Anaheim averages 76°F while Madison averages 52°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $2,175 versus $1,413.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Madison costs less and Anaheim 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. Madison at $1,413 average has pockets that run $1,213 and others at $1,813: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Anaheim and Madison are 1,659 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,175 a month in Anaheim to $1,413 a month in Madison, down $762 a month (35%).
Median household income goes from $95,227 in Anaheim to $78,050 in Madison, down $17,177 (18%).
The crime index goes from 143 in Anaheim to 91 in Madison, down 52 points (36%).
The move
Madison and Anaheim are 1,659 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,413 a month in Madison to $2,175 a month in Anaheim, up $762 a month (54%).
Median household income goes from $78,050 in Madison to $95,227 in Anaheim, up $17,177 (22%).
The crime index goes from 91 in Madison to 143 in Anaheim, up 52 points (57%).
Anaheim, CA
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 Anaheim and Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
35% cheaper
Madison rent is 35% cheaper than Anaheim
Anaheim
$2,175/mo
Madison
Winner$1,413/mo
Typical rent runs $1,413 a month in Madison versus $2,175 in Anaheim, so Madison is 35% cheaper. That's roughly $762/month back in your pocket ($9,144/year). Over five years that's $45,720 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Anaheim, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Madison is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
22% higher
Anaheim's median income is 22% higher than Madison
Anaheim
Winner$95,227
Madison
$78,050
Median household income is $95,227 in Anaheim versus $78,050 in Madison, so typical pay runs 22% higher in Anaheim (about $17,177 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, Anaheim is the stronger labor market on paper. Madison can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
36% lower crime
Madison's crime index is 36% lower than Anaheim
Anaheim
143 (100 = avg)
Madison
Winner91 (100 = avg)
Madison's crime index is 91 versus 143 in Anaheim (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 36% 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. Anaheim can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
56% more comfortable
Anaheim weather is 56% more comfortable than Madison
Anaheim
Winner76°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Madison
52°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 64/100
Anaheim averages about 76°F (83°F highs); Madison averages about 52°F (62°F highs). Anaheim sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Madison averages around 52°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Anaheim scores 56% 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
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 22% higher ($95,227), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 76°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Madison is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 35% cheaper here at about $1,413 a month. Choose Madison if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Madison is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 36% lower than Anaheim (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
On rent alone, Madison undercuts Anaheim by $762/month ($1,413 vs $2,175). I would not pick Anaheim on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
Safety still diverges (63/100 in Madison vs 49/100 in Anaheim), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Safety scores read 49/100 in Anaheim and 63/100 in Madison.
Most movers who prioritize housing cost land in Madison; Anaheim only makes sense when your offer letter is already written for Anaheim at $95,227 income.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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