City comparison
No. Madison's crime index is 91 versus 150 in Jacksonville, and its violent crime index is 68 versus 155, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Madison is cheaper. Median rent is $1,413 a month versus $1,465 in Jacksonville.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Jacksonville and Madison. Jacksonville averages 73°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 $1,465 versus $1,413.
Madison is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. Jacksonville makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Madison is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Madison has rougher pockets and Jacksonville has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Jacksonville and Madison are 978 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,465 a month in Jacksonville to $1,413 a month in Madison, down $52 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $69,872 in Jacksonville to $78,050 in Madison, up $8,178 (12%).
The crime index goes from 150 in Jacksonville to 91 in Madison, down 59 points (39%).
The move
Madison and Jacksonville are 978 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,413 a month in Madison to $1,465 a month in Jacksonville, up $52 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $78,050 in Madison to $69,872 in Jacksonville, down $8,178 (10%).
The crime index goes from 91 in Madison to 150 in Jacksonville, up 59 points (65%).
Jacksonville, FL
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 Jacksonville and Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
4% cheaper
Madison rent is 4% cheaper than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
$1,465/mo
Madison
Winner$1,413/mo
Typical rent runs $1,413 a month in Madison versus $1,465 in Jacksonville, so Madison 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 Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
12% higher
Madison's median income is 12% higher than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
$69,872
Madison
Winner$78,050
Median household income is $78,050 in Madison versus $69,872 in Jacksonville, so typical pay runs 12% higher in Madison (about $8,178 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. Jacksonville can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
39% lower crime
Madison's crime index is 39% lower than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
150 (100 = avg)
Madison
Winner91 (100 = avg)
Madison's crime index is 91 versus 150 in Jacksonville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 39% 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. Jacksonville can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
88% more comfortable
Jacksonville weather is 88% more comfortable than Madison
Jacksonville
Winner73°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 98/100
Madison
48°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 52/100
Jacksonville averages about 73°F (80°F highs); Madison averages about 48°F (57°F highs). Jacksonville sits near 73°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. Jacksonville scores 88% 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
Pick Jacksonville if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (73°F) beat Madison on this page's weather index by 88%. Madison may pay more or cost less, but Jacksonville is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Madison is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 4% 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 city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 12% 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 39% lower than Jacksonville (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
On weather alone, Jacksonville is the warmer market (73°F) and Madison the cooler (48°F). Typical leases run $1,465 and $1,413; choose the climate you will tolerate year-round, not just on a visit weekend.
With only $52 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Median income is $78,050 in Madison versus $69,872 in Jacksonville.
Between Jacksonville and Madison, Jacksonville is ahead on climate — 73°F typical weather versus 48°F. Lean Madison instead when you would rather tolerate 48°F than optimize for Jacksonville's comfort score.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Jacksonville and Madison, plus other cities in FL and WI.
