City comparison
No. Madison's crime index is 91 versus 193 in Durham, and its violent crime index is 68 versus 163, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Madison is cheaper. Median rent is $1,413 a month versus $1,508 in Durham.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Durham and Madison. Durham averages 59°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 $1,508 versus $1,413.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Madison costs less and Durham 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 Durham has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Durham and Madison are 742 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,508 a month in Durham to $1,413 a month in Madison, down $95 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $81,619 in Durham to $78,050 in Madison, down $3,569 (4%).
The crime index goes from 193 in Durham to 91 in Madison, down 102 points (53%).
The move
Madison and Durham are 742 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,413 a month in Madison to $1,508 a month in Durham, up $95 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $78,050 in Madison to $81,619 in Durham, up $3,569 (5%).
The crime index goes from 91 in Madison to 193 in Durham, up 102 points (112%).
Durham, NC
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 Durham and Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
6% cheaper
Madison rent is 6% cheaper than Durham
Durham
$1,508/mo
Madison
Winner$1,413/mo
Typical rent runs $1,413 a month in Madison versus $1,508 in Durham, so Madison is 6% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $95, or $1,140 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
5% higher
Durham's median income is 5% higher than Madison
Durham
Winner$81,619
Madison
$78,050
Median household income is $81,619 in Durham versus $78,050 in Madison, so typical pay runs 5% higher in Durham (about $3,569 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
53% lower crime
Madison's crime index is 53% lower than Durham
Durham
193 (100 = avg)
Madison
Winner91 (100 = avg)
Madison's crime index is 91 versus 193 in Durham (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 53% 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. Durham can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
60% more comfortable
Durham weather is 60% more comfortable than Madison
Durham
Winner59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Madison
48°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 52/100
Durham averages about 59°F (68°F highs); Madison averages about 48°F (57°F highs). Durham averages around 59°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. Durham scores 60% 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 5% higher ($81,619), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 59°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 6% 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 53% lower than Durham (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
Durham carries the heavier crime signal on this page (40/100 safety vs 63/100 in Madison). That 23-point spread matters more than the $95 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (63/100 in Madison vs 40/100 in Durham), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $81,619 in Durham versus $78,050 in Madison.
Pick Madison when you want the stronger safety signal (63/100). Otherwise, Durham's case rests on a Durham ZIP you trust at $1,508 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 Durham and Madison, plus other cities in NC and WI.
