City comparison
No. Madison's crime index is 91 versus 132 in Arlington, and its violent crime index is 68 versus 130, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Madison is cheaper. Median rent is $1,413 a month versus $1,470 in Arlington.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Arlington and Madison. Arlington averages 67°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 $1,470 versus $1,413.
Madison is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. Arlington makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Madison is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Madison has rougher pockets and Arlington has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Arlington and Madison are 828 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,470 a month in Arlington to $1,413 a month in Madison, down $57 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $75,171 in Arlington to $78,050 in Madison, up $2,879 (4%).
The crime index goes from 132 in Arlington to 91 in Madison, down 41 points (31%).
The move
Madison and Arlington are 828 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,413 a month in Madison to $1,470 a month in Arlington, up $57 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $78,050 in Madison to $75,171 in Arlington, down $2,879 (4%).
The crime index goes from 91 in Madison to 132 in Arlington, up 41 points (45%).
Arlington, TX
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 Arlington and Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
4% cheaper
Madison rent is 4% cheaper than Arlington
Arlington
$1,470/mo
Madison
Winner$1,413/mo
Typical rent runs $1,413 a month in Madison versus $1,470 in Arlington, so Madison is 4% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $57, or $684 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
4% higher
Madison's median income is 4% higher than Arlington
Arlington
$75,171
Madison
Winner$78,050
Median household income is $78,050 in Madison versus $75,171 in Arlington, so typical pay runs 4% higher in Madison (about $2,879 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
31% lower crime
Madison's crime index is 31% lower than Arlington
Arlington
132 (100 = avg)
Madison
Winner91 (100 = avg)
Madison's crime index is 91 versus 132 in Arlington (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 31% 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. Arlington can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
56% more comfortable
Arlington weather is 56% more comfortable than Madison
Arlington
Winner67°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Madison
52°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 64/100
Arlington averages about 67°F (74°F highs); Madison averages about 52°F (62°F highs). Arlington sits near 67°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. Arlington 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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Arlington if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (67°F) beat Madison on this page's weather index by 56%. Madison may pay more or cost less, but Arlington is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Madison is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 4% 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 city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 4% 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 31% lower than Arlington (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
Arlington carries the heavier crime signal on this page (52/100 safety vs 63/100 in Madison). That 11-point spread matters more than the $57 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (63/100 in Madison vs 52/100 in Arlington), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $78,050 in Madison versus $75,171 in Arlington.
Pick Madison when you want the stronger safety signal (63/100). Otherwise, Arlington's case rests on a Arlington ZIP you trust at $1,470 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Madison when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Arlington and Madison, plus other cities in TX and WI.
