City comparison
Madison and Garland are about equally safe. Madison's crime index is 91 versus 87 in Garland, and its violent crime index is 68 versus 62, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Madison is cheaper. Median rent is $1,413 a month versus $1,641 in Garland.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Madison and Garland. Madison averages 53°F while Garland averages 72°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,413 versus $1,641.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Madison is the easier city on typical rent, but Garland can still be the better daily fit depending on schools, safety, and climate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
Weather is the one thing you cannot negotiate with. Visit Madison in its coldest stretch before you sign anything.
The move
Madison and Garland are 804 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,413 a month in Madison to $1,641 a month in Garland, up $228 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $78,050 in Madison to $76,320 in Garland, down $1,730 (2%).
The crime index goes from 91 in Madison to 87 in Garland, down 4 points (4%).
The move
Garland and Madison are 804 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,641 a month in Garland to $1,413 a month in Madison, down $228 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $76,320 in Garland to $78,050 in Madison, up $1,730 (2%).
The crime index goes from 87 in Garland to 91 in Madison, up 4 points (5%).
Madison, WI
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Garland, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Madison and Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
14% cheaper
Madison rent is 14% cheaper than Garland
Madison
Winner$1,413/mo
Garland
$1,641/mo
Typical rent runs $1,413 a month in Madison versus $1,641 in Garland, so Madison is 14% 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 $2,736, 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 Garland.
Planning to buy in Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
2% higher
Madison's median income is 2% higher than Garland
Madison
Winner$78,050
Garland
$76,320
Median household income is $78,050 in Madison versus $76,320 in Garland, so typical pay runs 2% higher in Madison (about $1,730 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
4% lower crime
Garland's crime index is 4% lower than Madison
Madison
91 (100 = avg)
Garland
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Garland's crime index is 87 versus 91 in Madison (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 4% lower in Garland. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Garland, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Madison. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
52% more comfortable
Garland weather is 52% more comfortable than Madison
Madison
53°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 66/100
Garland
Winner72°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100
Madison averages about 53°F (61°F highs); Garland averages about 72°F (79°F highs). Madison averages around 53°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Garland sits near 72°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Garland scores 52% 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 and professional growth
Madison is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 14% 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 2% higher here ($78,050). Start with Madison if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Garland if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (72°F) beat Madison on this page's weather index by 52%. Madison may pay more or cost less, but Garland is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Garland is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 4% lower than Madison (87 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, Garland is the warmer market (72°F) and Madison the cooler (53°F). Typical leases run $1,641 and $1,413; choose the climate you will tolerate year-round, not just on a visit weekend.
Safety scores read 63/100 in Madison and 64/100 in Garland.
Most movers who prioritize climate land in Garland; Madison only makes sense when 53°F matches how you want to live year-round.
Typical rent stays $1,413 in Madison and $1,641 in Garland.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Madison when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Madison and Garland, plus other cities in WI and TX.
