City comparison
No. Madison's crime index is 91 versus 147 in Boston, and its violent crime index is 68 versus 175, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Madison is cheaper. Median rent is $1,413 a month versus $2,147 in Boston.
Safety is where Boston and Madison split most clearly. Madison scores 56 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $2,147 in Boston and $1,413 in Madison.
Madison is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Boston 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 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
Boston and Madison are 931 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,147 a month in Boston to $1,413 a month in Madison, down $734 a month (34%).
Median household income goes from $97,344 in Boston to $78,050 in Madison, down $19,294 (20%).
The crime index goes from 147 in Boston to 91 in Madison, down 56 points (38%).
The move
Madison and Boston are 931 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,413 a month in Madison to $2,147 a month in Boston, up $734 a month (52%).
Median household income goes from $78,050 in Madison to $97,344 in Boston, up $19,294 (25%).
The crime index goes from 91 in Madison to 147 in Boston, up 56 points (62%).
Boston, MA
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 Boston and Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
34% cheaper
Madison rent is 34% cheaper than Boston
Boston
$2,147/mo
Madison
Winner$1,413/mo
Typical rent runs $1,413 a month in Madison versus $2,147 in Boston, so Madison is 34% cheaper. That's roughly $734/month back in your pocket ($8,808/year). Over five years that's $44,040 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 Boston, 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
25% higher
Boston's median income is 25% higher than Madison
Boston
Winner$97,344
Madison
$78,050
Median household income is $97,344 in Boston versus $78,050 in Madison, so typical pay runs 25% higher in Boston (about $19,294 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, Boston 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
38% lower crime
Madison's crime index is 38% lower than Boston
Boston
147 (100 = avg)
Madison
Winner91 (100 = avg)
Madison's crime index is 91 versus 147 in Boston (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 38% 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. Boston can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
10% more comfortable
Madison weather is 10% more comfortable than Boston
Boston
50°F avg · 56°F highs · comfort 58/100
Madison
Winner52°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 64/100
Boston averages about 50°F (56°F highs); Madison averages about 52°F (62°F highs). Boston averages around 50°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Madison averages around 52°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Madison scores 10% 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 Boston 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 and professional growth
Boston is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 25% higher here ($97,344). Start with Boston if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Madison is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 34% 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.
Pick Madison if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (52°F) beat Boston on this page's weather index by 10%. Boston may pay more or cost less, but Madison is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Madison is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 38% lower than Boston (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
Boston runs $2,147/month while Madison sits at $1,413 — roughly 34% lower on typical leases. Unless your offer letter is Boston-sized, that monthly gap compounds fast.
Madison rent at $1,413/month is still below Boston's $2,147, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $97,344 in Boston versus $78,050 in Madison.
Between Boston and Madison, Madison is ahead on housing cost — $1,413/month rent against $2,147. Lean Boston instead when your $97,344 income offer in Boston outweighs saving $734/month in Madison.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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