City comparison
No. Madison's crime index is 91 versus 102 in Lexington, and its violent crime index is 68 versus 72, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Lexington is cheaper. Median rent is $1,164 a month versus $1,413 in Madison.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Lexington and Madison. Lexington averages 54°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 $1,164 versus $1,413.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Lexington 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 rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Lexington at $1,164 average has pockets that run $964 and others at $1,564: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Lexington and Madison are 436 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,164 a month in Lexington to $1,413 a month in Madison, up $249 a month (21%).
Median household income goes from $69,479 in Lexington to $78,050 in Madison, up $8,571 (12%).
The crime index goes from 102 in Lexington to 91 in Madison, down 11 points (11%).
The move
Madison and Lexington are 436 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,413 a month in Madison to $1,164 a month in Lexington, down $249 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $78,050 in Madison to $69,479 in Lexington, down $8,571 (11%).
The crime index goes from 91 in Madison to 102 in Lexington, up 11 points (12%).
Lexington, KY
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 Lexington and Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
18% cheaper
Lexington rent is 18% cheaper than Madison
Lexington
Winner$1,164/mo
Madison
$1,413/mo
Typical rent runs $1,164 a month in Lexington versus $1,413 in Madison, so Lexington is 18% 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 $2,988, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Lexington 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 Lexington? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
12% higher
Madison's median income is 12% higher than Lexington
Lexington
$69,479
Madison
Winner$78,050
Median household income is $78,050 in Madison versus $69,479 in Lexington, so typical pay runs 12% higher in Madison (about $8,571 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. Lexington can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
11% lower crime
Madison's crime index is 11% lower than Lexington
Lexington
102 (100 = avg)
Madison
Winner91 (100 = avg)
Madison's crime index is 91 versus 102 in Lexington (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 11% lower in Madison. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Madison, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Lexington. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
33% more comfortable
Lexington weather is 33% more comfortable than Madison
Lexington
Winner54°F avg · 64°F highs · comfort 69/100
Madison
48°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 52/100
Lexington averages about 54°F (64°F highs); Madison averages about 48°F (57°F highs). Lexington averages around 54°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Madison averages around 48°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Lexington scores 33% 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
Lexington is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 18% cheaper here at about $1,164 a month. Choose Lexington if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Lexington if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (54°F) beat Madison on this page's weather index by 33%. Madison may pay more or cost less, but Lexington 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 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 11% lower than Lexington (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: Lexington at $1,164/month versus $1,413 in Madison ($249 apart). Madison median income is $78,050 against $69,479 in Lexington, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Lexington rent at $1,164/month is still below Madison's $1,413, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 59/100 in Lexington and 63/100 in Madison.
Lexington clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. Madison deserves a serious look only when your $78,050 income offer in Madison outweighs saving $249/month in Lexington.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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