City comparison
No. Madison's crime index is 91 versus 343 in Kansas City, and its violent crime index is 68 versus 423, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Kansas City is cheaper. Median rent is $1,238 a month versus $1,413 in Madison.
Safety is where Kansas City and Madison split most clearly. Madison scores 252 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,238 in Kansas City and $1,413 in Madison.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Kansas City 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 Kansas City has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Kansas City and Madison are 385 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,238 a month in Kansas City to $1,413 a month in Madison, up $175 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $69,166 in Kansas City to $78,050 in Madison, up $8,884 (13%).
The crime index goes from 343 in Kansas City to 91 in Madison, down 252 points (73%).
The move
Madison and Kansas City are 385 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,413 a month in Madison to $1,238 a month in Kansas City, down $175 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $78,050 in Madison to $69,166 in Kansas City, down $8,884 (11%).
The crime index goes from 91 in Madison to 343 in Kansas City, up 252 points (277%).
Kansas City, MO
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 Kansas City and Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
12% cheaper
Kansas City rent is 12% cheaper than Madison
Kansas City
Winner$1,238/mo
Madison
$1,413/mo
Typical rent runs $1,238 a month in Kansas City versus $1,413 in Madison, so Kansas City is 12% 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 $2,100, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Kansas City 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 Kansas City? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
13% higher
Madison's median income is 13% higher than Kansas City
Kansas City
$69,166
Madison
Winner$78,050
Median household income is $78,050 in Madison versus $69,166 in Kansas City, so typical pay runs 13% higher in Madison (about $8,884 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. Kansas City can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
73% lower crime
Madison's crime index is 73% lower than Kansas City
Kansas City
343 (100 = avg)
Madison
Winner91 (100 = avg)
Madison's crime index is 91 versus 343 in Kansas City (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 73% 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. Kansas City can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
25% more comfortable
Kansas City weather is 25% more comfortable than Madison
Kansas City
Winner58°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 80/100
Madison
52°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 64/100
Kansas City averages about 58°F (66°F highs); Madison averages about 52°F (62°F highs). Kansas City averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Madison averages around 52°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Kansas City scores 25% 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
Kansas City is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 12% cheaper here at about $1,238 a month. Choose Kansas City if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Kansas City if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (58°F) beat Madison on this page's weather index by 25%. Madison may pay more or cost less, but Kansas City 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 13% 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 73% lower than Kansas 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
Safety is the widest gap: Madison scores 63/100 versus 23/100 in Kansas City. Rent is $1,413/month in Madison and $1,238/month in Kansas City, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Safety still diverges (63/100 in Madison vs 23/100 in Kansas City), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,238 in Kansas City and $1,413 in Madison.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Madison; Kansas City only makes sense when you have walked the Kansas City ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,238 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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