City comparison
No. Madison's crime index is 91 versus 271 in Denver, and its violent crime index is 68 versus 272, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Madison is cheaper. Median rent is $1,413 a month versus $1,831 in Denver.
Safety is where Denver and Madison split most clearly. Madison scores 180 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,831 in Denver and $1,413 in Madison.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Madison costs less and Denver 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
Denver and Madison are 838 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,831 a month in Denver to $1,413 a month in Madison, down $418 a month (23%).
Median household income goes from $94,718 in Denver to $78,050 in Madison, down $16,668 (18%).
The crime index goes from 271 in Denver to 91 in Madison, down 180 points (66%).
The move
Madison and Denver are 838 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,413 a month in Madison to $1,831 a month in Denver, up $418 a month (30%).
Median household income goes from $78,050 in Madison to $94,718 in Denver, up $16,668 (21%).
The crime index goes from 91 in Madison to 271 in Denver, up 180 points (198%).
Denver, 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 Denver and Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
23% cheaper
Madison rent is 23% cheaper than Denver
Denver
$1,831/mo
Madison
Winner$1,413/mo
Typical rent runs $1,413 a month in Madison versus $1,831 in Denver, so Madison is 23% cheaper. That's roughly $418/month back in your pocket ($5,016/year). Over five years that's $25,080 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 Denver, 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
21% higher
Denver's median income is 21% higher than Madison
Denver
Winner$94,718
Madison
$78,050
Median household income is $94,718 in Denver versus $78,050 in Madison, so typical pay runs 21% higher in Denver (about $16,668 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, Denver 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
66% lower crime
Madison's crime index is 66% lower than Denver
Denver
271 (100 = avg)
Madison
Winner91 (100 = avg)
Madison's crime index is 91 versus 271 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 66% 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. Denver can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
44% more comfortable
Denver weather is 44% more comfortable than Madison
Denver
Winner62°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 92/100
Madison
52°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 64/100
Denver averages about 62°F (71°F highs); Madison averages about 52°F (62°F highs). Denver averages around 62°F. Madison averages around 52°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Denver scores 44% 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 21% higher ($94,718), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 62°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 66% lower than Denver (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
Denver carries the heavier crime signal on this page (30/100 safety vs 63/100 in Madison). That 33-point spread matters more than the $418 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Denver still pays more locally ($94,718 median income vs $78,050), which can offset the lease if your field pays Denver rates.
Weather averages land near 62°F in Denver and 52°F in Madison.
Pick Madison when you want the stronger safety signal (63/100). Otherwise, Denver's case rests on a Denver ZIP you trust at $1,831 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Denver and Madison, plus other cities in CO and WI.
