City comparison
No. Madison's crime index is 91 versus 138 in Las Vegas, and its violent crime index is 68 versus 122, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Madison is cheaper. Median rent is $1,413 a month versus $1,563 in Las Vegas.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Las Vegas and Madison. Las Vegas averages 75°F while Madison averages 52°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,563 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. Las Vegas 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 Las Vegas has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Las Vegas and Madison are 1,443 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,563 a month in Las Vegas to $1,413 a month in Madison, down $150 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $73,877 in Las Vegas to $78,050 in Madison, up $4,173 (6%).
The crime index goes from 138 in Las Vegas to 91 in Madison, down 47 points (34%).
The move
Madison and Las Vegas are 1,443 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,413 a month in Madison to $1,563 a month in Las Vegas, up $150 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $78,050 in Madison to $73,877 in Las Vegas, down $4,173 (5%).
The crime index goes from 91 in Madison to 138 in Las Vegas, up 47 points (52%).
Las Vegas, NV
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 Las Vegas and Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
10% cheaper
Madison rent is 10% cheaper than Las Vegas
Las Vegas
$1,563/mo
Madison
Winner$1,413/mo
Typical rent runs $1,413 a month in Madison versus $1,563 in Las Vegas, so Madison is 10% 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 $1,800, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Madison still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Las Vegas.
Planning to buy in Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
6% higher
Madison's median income is 6% higher than Las Vegas
Las Vegas
$73,877
Madison
Winner$78,050
Median household income is $78,050 in Madison versus $73,877 in Las Vegas, so typical pay runs 6% higher in Madison (about $4,173 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
34% lower crime
Madison's crime index is 34% lower than Las Vegas
Las Vegas
138 (100 = avg)
Madison
Winner91 (100 = avg)
Madison's crime index is 91 versus 138 in Las Vegas (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 34% 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. Las Vegas can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
56% more comfortable
Las Vegas weather is 56% more comfortable than Madison
Las Vegas
Winner75°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
Madison
52°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 64/100
Las Vegas averages about 75°F (80°F highs); Madison averages about 52°F (62°F highs). Las Vegas sits near 75°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. Las Vegas 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
Pick Las Vegas if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (75°F) beat Madison on this page's weather index by 56%. Madison may pay more or cost less, but Las Vegas 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 10% 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 6% 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 34% lower than Las Vegas (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, Las Vegas is the warmer market (75°F) and Madison the cooler (52°F). Typical leases run $1,563 and $1,413; choose the climate you will tolerate year-round, not just on a visit weekend.
With only $150 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Typical rent stays $1,413 in Madison and $1,563 in Las Vegas.
Between Las Vegas and Madison, Las Vegas is ahead on climate — 75°F typical weather versus 52°F. Lean Madison instead when you would rather tolerate 52°F than optimize for Las Vegas's comfort score.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Las Vegas and Madison, plus other cities in NV and WI.
