City comparison
No. Madison's crime index is 91 versus 188 in Dallas, and its violent crime index is 68 versus 179, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Madison is cheaper. Median rent is $1,413 a month versus $1,472 in Dallas.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Dallas and Madison. Dallas averages 67°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 $1,472 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. Dallas 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 Dallas has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Dallas and Madison are 817 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Dallas to $1,413 a month in Madison, down $59 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $70,518 in Dallas to $78,050 in Madison, up $7,532 (11%).
The crime index goes from 188 in Dallas to 91 in Madison, down 97 points (52%).
The move
Madison and Dallas are 817 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,413 a month in Madison to $1,472 a month in Dallas, up $59 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $78,050 in Madison to $70,518 in Dallas, down $7,532 (10%).
The crime index goes from 91 in Madison to 188 in Dallas, up 97 points (107%).
Dallas, 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 Dallas and Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
4% cheaper
Madison rent is 4% cheaper than Dallas
Dallas
$1,472/mo
Madison
Winner$1,413/mo
Typical rent runs $1,413 a month in Madison versus $1,472 in Dallas, so Madison is 4% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $59, or $708 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
11% higher
Madison's median income is 11% higher than Dallas
Dallas
$70,518
Madison
Winner$78,050
Median household income is $78,050 in Madison versus $70,518 in Dallas, so typical pay runs 11% higher in Madison (about $7,532 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, Madison is the stronger labor market on paper. Dallas can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
52% lower crime
Madison's crime index is 52% lower than Dallas
Dallas
188 (100 = avg)
Madison
Winner91 (100 = avg)
Madison's crime index is 91 versus 188 in Dallas (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 52% 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. Dallas can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
92% more comfortable
Dallas weather is 92% more comfortable than Madison
Dallas
Winner67°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Madison
48°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 52/100
Dallas averages about 67°F (74°F highs); Madison averages about 48°F (57°F highs). Dallas sits near 67°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. Dallas 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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Dallas 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 92%. Madison may pay more or cost less, but Dallas 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 11% 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 52% lower than Dallas (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
Safety is the widest gap: Madison scores 63/100 versus 41/100 in Dallas. Rent is $1,413/month in Madison and $1,472/month in Dallas, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Safety still diverges (63/100 in Madison vs 41/100 in Dallas), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $78,050 in Madison versus $70,518 in Dallas.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Madison; Dallas only makes sense when you have walked the Dallas ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,472 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Dallas and Madison, plus other cities in TX and WI.
