City comparison
No. Madison's crime index is 91 versus 212 in Aurora, and its violent crime index is 68 versus 248, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Madison is cheaper. Median rent is $1,413 a month versus $1,835 in Aurora.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Aurora and Madison. Aurora averages 61°F while Madison averages 48°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,835 versus $1,413.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Madison costs less and Aurora 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
Aurora and Madison are 831 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,835 a month in Aurora to $1,413 a month in Madison, down $422 a month (23%).
Median household income goes from $88,368 in Aurora to $78,050 in Madison, down $10,318 (12%).
The crime index goes from 212 in Aurora to 91 in Madison, down 121 points (57%).
The move
Madison and Aurora are 831 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,413 a month in Madison to $1,835 a month in Aurora, up $422 a month (30%).
Median household income goes from $78,050 in Madison to $88,368 in Aurora, up $10,318 (13%).
The crime index goes from 91 in Madison to 212 in Aurora, up 121 points (133%).
Aurora, CO
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 Aurora and Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
23% cheaper
Madison rent is 23% cheaper than Aurora
Aurora
$1,835/mo
Madison
Winner$1,413/mo
Typical rent runs $1,413 a month in Madison versus $1,835 in Aurora, so Madison is 23% cheaper. That's roughly $422/month back in your pocket ($5,064/year). Over five years that's $25,320 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 Aurora, 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
13% higher
Aurora's median income is 13% higher than Madison
Aurora
Winner$88,368
Madison
$78,050
Median household income is $88,368 in Aurora versus $78,050 in Madison, so typical pay runs 13% higher in Aurora (about $10,318 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, Aurora 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
57% lower crime
Madison's crime index is 57% lower than Aurora
Aurora
212 (100 = avg)
Madison
Winner91 (100 = avg)
Madison's crime index is 91 versus 212 in Aurora (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 57% 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. Aurora can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
71% more comfortable
Aurora weather is 71% more comfortable than Madison
Aurora
Winner61°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 89/100
Madison
48°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 52/100
Aurora averages about 61°F (71°F highs); Madison averages about 48°F (57°F highs). Aurora averages around 61°F. Madison averages around 48°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Aurora scores 71% 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 13% higher ($88,368), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 61°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 23% 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 57% lower than Aurora (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
Aurora carries the heavier crime signal on this page (37/100 safety vs 63/100 in Madison). That 26-point spread matters more than the $422 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (63/100 in Madison vs 37/100 in Aurora), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,413 in Madison and $1,835 in Aurora.
Madison clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Aurora deserves a serious look only when you already know the Aurora block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
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 Aurora and Madison, plus other cities in CO and WI.
