City comparison
No. Madison's crime index is 91 versus 214 in Greensboro, and its violent crime index is 68 versus 235, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Greensboro is cheaper. Median rent is $1,172 a month versus $1,413 in Madison.
Safety is where Greensboro and Madison split most clearly. Madison scores 123 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,172 in Greensboro and $1,413 in Madison.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Greensboro costs less and Madison 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. Greensboro at $1,172 average has pockets that run $972 and others at $1,572: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Greensboro and Madison are 703 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,172 a month in Greensboro to $1,413 a month in Madison, up $241 a month (21%).
Median household income goes from $61,515 in Greensboro to $78,050 in Madison, up $16,535 (27%).
The crime index goes from 214 in Greensboro to 91 in Madison, down 123 points (57%).
The move
Madison and Greensboro are 703 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,413 a month in Madison to $1,172 a month in Greensboro, down $241 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $78,050 in Madison to $61,515 in Greensboro, down $16,535 (21%).
The crime index goes from 91 in Madison to 214 in Greensboro, up 123 points (135%).
Greensboro, 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 Greensboro and Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
17% cheaper
Greensboro rent is 17% cheaper than Madison
Greensboro
Winner$1,172/mo
Madison
$1,413/mo
Typical rent runs $1,172 a month in Greensboro versus $1,413 in Madison, so Greensboro is 17% 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 $2,892, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Greensboro still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Madison.
Planning to buy in Greensboro? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
27% higher
Madison's median income is 27% higher than Greensboro
Greensboro
$61,515
Madison
Winner$78,050
Median household income is $78,050 in Madison versus $61,515 in Greensboro, so typical pay runs 27% higher in Madison (about $16,535 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. Greensboro can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
57% lower crime
Madison's crime index is 57% lower than Greensboro
Greensboro
214 (100 = avg)
Madison
Winner91 (100 = avg)
Madison's crime index is 91 versus 214 in Greensboro (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 57% 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. Greensboro can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
44% more comfortable
Greensboro weather is 44% more comfortable than Madison
Greensboro
Winner56°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 75/100
Madison
48°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 52/100
Greensboro averages about 56°F (67°F highs); Madison averages about 48°F (57°F highs). Greensboro averages around 56°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. Greensboro 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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Greensboro is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 17% cheaper here at about $1,172 a month. Choose Greensboro if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Greensboro if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (56°F) beat Madison on this page's weather index by 44%. Madison may pay more or cost less, but Greensboro is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Madison is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 27% 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 57% lower than Greensboro (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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Madison leads on safety (63/100 vs 37/100 in Greensboro). Typical rent is $1,413 in Madison and $1,172 in Greensboro; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Safety still diverges (63/100 in Madison vs 37/100 in Greensboro), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $78,050 in Madison versus $61,515 in Greensboro.
Madison is ahead on safety (63/100 vs 37/100); Greensboro is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,172/month rent plus $61,515 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Greensboro and Madison, plus other cities in NC and WI.
