City comparison
Madison is safer than Jersey City. Madison's crime index is 91 versus 135 in Jersey City, and its violent crime index is 68 versus 152, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Madison is cheaper. Median rent is $1,413 a month versus $2,007 in Jersey City.
Safety is where Jersey City and Madison split most clearly. Madison scores 44 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $2,007 in Jersey City and $1,413 in Madison.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Madison costs less and Jersey City 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. 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
Jersey City and Madison are 803 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,007 a month in Jersey City to $1,413 a month in Madison, down $594 a month (30%).
Median household income goes from $97,710 in Jersey City to $78,050 in Madison, down $19,660 (20%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Jersey City to 91 in Madison, down 44 points (33%).
The move
Madison and Jersey City are 803 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,413 a month in Madison to $2,007 a month in Jersey City, up $594 a month (42%).
Median household income goes from $78,050 in Madison to $97,710 in Jersey City, up $19,660 (25%).
The crime index goes from 91 in Madison to 135 in Jersey City, up 44 points (48%).
Jersey City, NJ
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 Jersey City and Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
30% cheaper
Madison rent is 30% cheaper than Jersey City
Jersey City
$2,007/mo
Madison
Winner$1,413/mo
Typical rent runs $1,413 a month in Madison versus $2,007 in Jersey City, so Madison is 30% cheaper. That's roughly $594/month back in your pocket ($7,128/year). Over five years that's $35,640 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 Jersey City, 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 Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
25% higher
Jersey City's median income is 25% higher than Madison
Jersey City
Winner$97,710
Madison
$78,050
Median household income is $97,710 in Jersey City versus $78,050 in Madison, so typical pay runs 25% higher in Jersey City (about $19,660 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, Jersey City 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
33% lower crime
Madison's crime index is 33% lower than Jersey City
Jersey City
135 (100 = avg)
Madison
Winner91 (100 = avg)
Madison's crime index is 91 versus 135 in Jersey City (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 33% 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. Jersey City can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
18% more comfortable
Jersey City weather is 18% more comfortable than Madison
Jersey City
Winner57°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 78/100
Madison
53°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 66/100
Jersey City averages about 57°F (63°F highs); Madison averages about 53°F (61°F highs). Jersey City averages around 57°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Madison averages around 53°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Jersey City scores 18% 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 25% higher ($97,710), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 57°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 30% 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 33% lower than Jersey City (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
Rent is the clearest fork: Madison at $1,413/month versus $2,007 in Jersey City ($594 apart). Jersey City median income is $97,710 against $78,050 in Madison, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Madison rent at $1,413/month is still below Jersey City's $2,007, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $97,710 in Jersey City versus $78,050 in Madison.
If housing cost drives your move, Madison is the stronger match ($1,413/month rent against $2,007). If an employer or family tie already points to Jersey City, treat $2,007/month rent and $97,710 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Jersey City and Madison, plus other cities in NJ and WI.
