City comparison
No. Madison's crime index is 91 versus 158 in Los Angeles, and its violent crime index is 68 versus 202, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Madison is cheaper. Median rent is $1,413 a month versus $1,933 in Los Angeles.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Los Angeles and Madison. Los Angeles averages 77°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 $1,933 versus $1,413.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Madison costs less and Los Angeles 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
Los Angeles and Madison are 1,668 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,933 a month in Los Angeles to $1,413 a month in Madison, down $520 a month (27%).
Median household income goes from $81,939 in Los Angeles to $78,050 in Madison, down $3,889 (5%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Los Angeles to 91 in Madison, down 67 points (42%).
The move
Madison and Los Angeles are 1,668 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,413 a month in Madison to $1,933 a month in Los Angeles, up $520 a month (37%).
Median household income goes from $78,050 in Madison to $81,939 in Los Angeles, up $3,889 (5%).
The crime index goes from 91 in Madison to 158 in Los Angeles, up 67 points (74%).
Los Angeles, CA
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 Los Angeles and Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
27% cheaper
Madison rent is 27% cheaper than Los Angeles
Los Angeles
$1,933/mo
Madison
Winner$1,413/mo
Typical rent runs $1,413 a month in Madison versus $1,933 in Los Angeles, so Madison is 27% cheaper. That's roughly $520/month back in your pocket ($6,240/year). Over five years that's $31,200 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 Los Angeles, 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
5% higher
Los Angeles's median income is 5% higher than Madison
Los Angeles
Winner$81,939
Madison
$78,050
Median household income is $81,939 in Los Angeles versus $78,050 in Madison, so typical pay runs 5% higher in Los Angeles (about $3,889 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
42% lower crime
Madison's crime index is 42% lower than Los Angeles
Los Angeles
158 (100 = avg)
Madison
Winner91 (100 = avg)
Madison's crime index is 91 versus 158 in Los Angeles (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 42% 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. Los Angeles can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
92% more comfortable
Los Angeles weather is 92% more comfortable than Madison
Los Angeles
Winner77°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Madison
48°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 52/100
Los Angeles averages about 77°F (83°F highs); Madison averages about 48°F (57°F highs). Los Angeles sits near 77°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. Los Angeles scores 92% 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 5% higher ($81,939), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 77°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 27% 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 42% lower than Los Angeles (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
Los Angeles runs 77°F typical weather against 48°F in Madison (comfort scores 100 vs 52). Housing is $1,933/month versus $1,413/month, so this decision is lifestyle-weighted as much as financial.
Los Angeles still pays more locally ($81,939 median income vs $78,050), which can offset the lease if your field pays Los Angeles rates.
Typical rent stays $1,413 in Madison and $1,933 in Los Angeles.
If climate drives your move, Madison is the stronger match (48°F typical weather versus 77°F). If an employer or family tie already points to Los Angeles, treat $1,933/month rent and $81,939 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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