City comparison
No. Madison's crime index is 91 versus 200 in Colorado Springs, and its violent crime index is 68 versus 204, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Madison is cheaper. Median rent is $1,413 a month versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs.
Safety is where Colorado Springs and Madison split most clearly. Madison scores 109 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,648 in Colorado Springs and $1,413 in Madison.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Madison costs less and Colorado Springs 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 crime gap is citywide. Madison has rougher pockets and Colorado Springs has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Colorado Springs and Madison are 855 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs to $1,413 a month in Madison, down $235 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $84,818 in Colorado Springs to $78,050 in Madison, down $6,768 (8%).
The crime index goes from 200 in Colorado Springs to 91 in Madison, down 109 points (55%).
The move
Madison and Colorado Springs are 855 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,413 a month in Madison to $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs, up $235 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $78,050 in Madison to $84,818 in Colorado Springs, up $6,768 (9%).
The crime index goes from 91 in Madison to 200 in Colorado Springs, up 109 points (120%).
Colorado Springs, 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 Colorado Springs and Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
14% cheaper
Madison rent is 14% cheaper than Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
$1,648/mo
Madison
Winner$1,413/mo
Typical rent runs $1,413 a month in Madison versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs, so Madison is 14% 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 $2,820, 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 Colorado Springs.
Planning to buy in Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
9% higher
Colorado Springs's median income is 9% higher than Madison
Colorado Springs
Winner$84,818
Madison
$78,050
Median household income is $84,818 in Colorado Springs versus $78,050 in Madison, so typical pay runs 9% higher in Colorado Springs (about $6,768 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
55% lower crime
Madison's crime index is 55% lower than Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
200 (100 = avg)
Madison
Winner91 (100 = avg)
Madison's crime index is 91 versus 200 in Colorado Springs (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 55% 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. Colorado Springs can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
38% more comfortable
Colorado Springs weather is 38% more comfortable than Madison
Colorado Springs
Winner55°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 72/100
Madison
48°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 52/100
Colorado Springs averages about 55°F (63°F highs); Madison averages about 48°F (57°F highs). Colorado Springs averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Madison averages around 48°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Colorado Springs scores 38% 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 9% higher ($84,818), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 55°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 14% 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 55% lower than Colorado Springs (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
Colorado Springs carries the heavier crime signal on this page (39/100 safety vs 63/100 in Madison). That 24-point spread matters more than the $235 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (63/100 in Madison vs 39/100 in Colorado Springs), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,413 in Madison and $1,648 in Colorado Springs.
Madison clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Colorado Springs deserves a serious look only when you already know the Colorado Springs block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Colorado Springs and Madison, plus other cities in CO and WI.
