City comparison
Yes. Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 91 in Madison, and its violent crime index is 37 versus 68, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Madison is cheaper. Median rent is $1,413 a month versus $2,110 in Gilbert.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Gilbert and Madison. Gilbert averages 80°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 $2,110 versus $1,413.
Gilbert is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Madison makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Gilbert 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
Gilbert and Madison are 1,382 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,110 a month in Gilbert to $1,413 a month in Madison, down $697 a month (33%).
Median household income goes from $122,551 in Gilbert to $78,050 in Madison, down $44,501 (36%).
The crime index goes from 47 in Gilbert to 91 in Madison, up 44 points (94%).
The move
Madison and Gilbert are 1,382 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,413 a month in Madison to $2,110 a month in Gilbert, up $697 a month (49%).
Median household income goes from $78,050 in Madison to $122,551 in Gilbert, up $44,501 (57%).
The crime index goes from 91 in Madison to 47 in Gilbert, down 44 points (48%).
Gilbert, AZ
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 Gilbert and Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
33% cheaper
Madison rent is 33% cheaper than Gilbert
Gilbert
$2,110/mo
Madison
Winner$1,413/mo
Typical rent runs $1,413 a month in Madison versus $2,110 in Gilbert, so Madison is 33% cheaper. That's roughly $697/month back in your pocket ($8,364/year). Over five years that's $41,820 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 Gilbert, 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 Gilbert? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
57% higher
Gilbert's median income is 57% higher than Madison
Gilbert
Winner$122,551
Madison
$78,050
Median household income is $122,551 in Gilbert versus $78,050 in Madison, so typical pay runs 57% higher in Gilbert (about $44,501 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, Gilbert 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
48% lower crime
Gilbert's crime index is 48% lower than Madison
Gilbert
Winner47 (100 = avg)
Madison
91 (100 = avg)
Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 91 in Madison (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 48% lower in Gilbert. 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, Gilbert is the easier city. Madison can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
92% more comfortable
Gilbert weather is 92% more comfortable than Madison
Gilbert
Winner80°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Madison
48°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 52/100
Gilbert averages about 80°F (87°F highs); Madison averages about 48°F (57°F highs). Gilbert sits near 80°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. Gilbert 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
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 57% higher ($122,551), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 80°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Gilbert is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 48% lower than Madison (47 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.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Madison
Madison is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 33% 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.
Bottom line
Gilbert runs 80°F typical weather against 48°F in Madison (comfort scores 100 vs 52). Housing is $2,110/month versus $1,413/month, so this decision is lifestyle-weighted as much as financial.
Gilbert still pays more locally ($122,551 median income vs $78,050), which can offset the lease if your field pays Gilbert rates.
Typical rent stays $1,413 in Madison and $2,110 in Gilbert.
Madison clears the bar on climate in this dataset. Gilbert deserves a serious look only when you would rather tolerate 80°F than optimize for Madison's comfort score.
Common questions
Ready to move to Gilbert?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Gilbert when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Gilbert and Madison, plus other cities in AZ and WI.
