City comparison
Frisco is safer than Madison. Frisco's crime index is 43 versus 91 in Madison, and its violent crime index is 31 versus 68, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Madison is cheaper. Median rent is $1,413 a month versus $2,014 in Frisco.
The income gap between Madison and Frisco is significant: $78,050 median household versus $150,212. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,413 in Madison and $2,014 in Frisco.
Frisco is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Madison makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Frisco is the stronger move.
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
Madison and Frisco are 795 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,413 a month in Madison to $2,014 a month in Frisco, up $601 a month (43%).
Median household income goes from $78,050 in Madison to $150,212 in Frisco, up $72,162 (92%).
The crime index goes from 91 in Madison to 43 in Frisco, down 48 points (53%).
The move
Frisco and Madison are 795 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,014 a month in Frisco to $1,413 a month in Madison, down $601 a month (30%).
Median household income goes from $150,212 in Frisco to $78,050 in Madison, down $72,162 (48%).
The crime index goes from 43 in Frisco to 91 in Madison, up 48 points (112%).
Madison, WI
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Frisco, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Madison and Frisco? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
30% cheaper
Madison rent is 30% cheaper than Frisco
Madison
Winner$1,413/mo
Frisco
$2,014/mo
Typical rent runs $1,413 a month in Madison versus $2,014 in Frisco, so Madison is 30% cheaper. That's roughly $601/month back in your pocket ($7,212/year). Over five years that's $36,060 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 Frisco, 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 Frisco? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
92% higher
Frisco's median income is 92% higher than Madison
Madison
$78,050
Frisco
Winner$150,212
Median household income is $150,212 in Frisco versus $78,050 in Madison, so typical pay runs 92% higher in Frisco (about $72,162 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, Frisco 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
53% lower crime
Frisco's crime index is 53% lower than Madison
Madison
91 (100 = avg)
Frisco
Winner43 (100 = avg)
Frisco's crime index is 43 versus 91 in Madison (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 53% lower in Frisco. 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, Frisco is the easier city. Madison can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
47% more comfortable
Frisco weather is 47% more comfortable than Madison
Madison
53°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 66/100
Frisco
Winner64°F avg · 72°F highs · comfort 97/100
Madison averages about 53°F (61°F highs); Frisco averages about 64°F (72°F highs). Madison averages around 53°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Frisco averages around 64°F. Frisco scores 47% 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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Madison
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.
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 92% higher ($150,212), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 64°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Frisco is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 53% lower than Madison (43 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
This pair is really a paycheck comparison: Frisco at $150,212 median income versus $78,050 in Madison. Housing ($1,413 in Madison, $2,014 in Frisco) is secondary unless you are rent-burdened already.
Frisco still pays more locally ($150,212 median income vs $78,050), which can offset the lease if your field pays Frisco rates.
Typical rent stays $1,413 in Madison and $2,014 in Frisco.
Frisco clears the bar on local pay in this dataset. Madison deserves a serious look only when keeping rent near $1,413/month beats chasing $150,212 median income.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Madison and Frisco, plus other cities in WI and TX.
