City comparison
No. Madison's crime index is 91 versus 270 in Houston, and its violent crime index is 68 versus 294, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Houston is cheaper. Median rent is $1,361 a month versus $1,413 in Madison.
Safety is where Houston and Madison split most clearly. Madison scores 179 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,361 in Houston and $1,413 in Madison.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Houston 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 crime gap is citywide. Madison has rougher pockets and Houston has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Houston and Madison are 977 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,361 a month in Houston to $1,413 a month in Madison, up $52 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $64,813 in Houston to $78,050 in Madison, up $13,237 (20%).
The crime index goes from 270 in Houston to 91 in Madison, down 179 points (66%).
The move
Madison and Houston are 977 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,413 a month in Madison to $1,361 a month in Houston, down $52 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $78,050 in Madison to $64,813 in Houston, down $13,237 (17%).
The crime index goes from 91 in Madison to 270 in Houston, up 179 points (197%).
Houston, 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 Houston and Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
4% cheaper
Houston rent is 4% cheaper than Madison
Houston
Winner$1,361/mo
Madison
$1,413/mo
Typical rent runs $1,361 a month in Houston versus $1,413 in Madison, so Houston is 4% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $52, or $624 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 Houston? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
20% higher
Madison's median income is 20% higher than Houston
Houston
$64,813
Madison
Winner$78,050
Median household income is $78,050 in Madison versus $64,813 in Houston, so typical pay runs 20% higher in Madison (about $13,237 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. Houston 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 Houston
Houston
270 (100 = avg)
Madison
Winner91 (100 = avg)
Madison's crime index is 91 versus 270 in Houston (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. Houston can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
56% more comfortable
Houston weather is 56% more comfortable than Madison
Houston
Winner70°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Madison
52°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 64/100
Houston averages about 70°F (78°F highs); Madison averages about 52°F (62°F highs). Houston sits near 70°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Madison averages around 52°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Houston scores 56% 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
Houston is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 4% cheaper here at about $1,361 a month. Choose Houston if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Houston if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (70°F) beat Madison on this page's weather index by 56%. Madison may pay more or cost less, but Houston 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 20% 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 66% lower than Houston (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
Crime and safety tilt toward Madison: Madison scores 63/100 versus 30/100 in Houston, with typical rent at $1,413 versus $1,361. I would vet the exact ZIP in Houston before trading 33 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (63/100 in Madison vs 30/100 in Houston), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $78,050 in Madison versus $64,813 in Houston.
Madison clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Houston deserves a serious look only when you already know the Houston block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
Ready to move to Houston?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Houston when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Houston and Madison, plus other cities in TX and WI.
