City comparison
No. Madison's crime index is 91 versus 162 in Austin, 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 $1,729 in Austin.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Austin and Madison. Austin averages 68°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 $1,729 versus $1,413.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Madison costs less and Austin 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
Austin and Madison are 997 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,729 a month in Austin to $1,413 a month in Madison, down $316 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $93,658 in Austin to $78,050 in Madison, down $15,608 (17%).
The crime index goes from 162 in Austin to 91 in Madison, down 71 points (44%).
The move
Madison and Austin are 997 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,413 a month in Madison to $1,729 a month in Austin, up $316 a month (22%).
Median household income goes from $78,050 in Madison to $93,658 in Austin, up $15,608 (20%).
The crime index goes from 91 in Madison to 162 in Austin, up 71 points (78%).
Austin, 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 Austin and Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
18% cheaper
Madison rent is 18% cheaper than Austin
Austin
$1,729/mo
Madison
Winner$1,413/mo
Typical rent runs $1,413 a month in Madison versus $1,729 in Austin, so Madison is 18% 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 $3,792, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Madison still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Austin.
Planning to buy in Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
20% higher
Austin's median income is 20% higher than Madison
Austin
Winner$93,658
Madison
$78,050
Median household income is $93,658 in Austin versus $78,050 in Madison, so typical pay runs 20% higher in Austin (about $15,608 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, Austin 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
44% lower crime
Madison's crime index is 44% lower than Austin
Austin
162 (100 = avg)
Madison
Winner91 (100 = avg)
Madison's crime index is 91 versus 162 in Austin (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 44% 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. Austin can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
92% more comfortable
Austin weather is 92% more comfortable than Madison
Austin
Winner68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Madison
48°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 52/100
Austin averages about 68°F (76°F highs); Madison averages about 48°F (57°F highs). Austin sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Madison averages around 48°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Austin scores 92% 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 20% higher ($93,658), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 68°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 18% 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 44% lower than Austin (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
Austin carries the heavier crime signal on this page (45/100 safety vs 63/100 in Madison). That 18-point spread matters more than the $316 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (63/100 in Madison vs 45/100 in Austin), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,413 in Madison and $1,729 in Austin.
Pick Madison when you want the stronger safety signal (63/100). Otherwise, Austin's case rests on a Austin ZIP you trust at $1,729 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 Austin and Madison, plus other cities in TX and WI.
