City comparison
Yes. Madison's crime index is 91 versus 134 in Huntsville, and its violent crime index is 68 versus 127, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Huntsville is cheaper. Median rent is $1,171 a month versus $1,413 in Madison.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Madison and Huntsville. Madison averages 48°F while Huntsville averages 63°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,413 versus $1,171.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Huntsville 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. Huntsville at $1,171 average has pockets that run $971 and others at $1,571: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Madison and Huntsville are 596 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,413 a month in Madison to $1,171 a month in Huntsville, down $242 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $78,050 in Madison to $74,714 in Huntsville, down $3,336 (4%).
The crime index goes from 91 in Madison to 134 in Huntsville, up 43 points (47%).
The move
Huntsville and Madison are 596 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,171 a month in Huntsville to $1,413 a month in Madison, up $242 a month (21%).
Median household income goes from $74,714 in Huntsville to $78,050 in Madison, up $3,336 (4%).
The crime index goes from 134 in Huntsville to 91 in Madison, down 43 points (32%).
Madison, WI
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Huntsville, AL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Madison and Huntsville? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
17% cheaper
Huntsville rent is 17% cheaper than Madison
Madison
$1,413/mo
Huntsville
Winner$1,171/mo
Typical rent runs $1,171 a month in Huntsville versus $1,413 in Madison, so Huntsville is 17% 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 $2,904, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Huntsville 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 Huntsville? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
4% higher
Madison's median income is 4% higher than Huntsville
Madison
Winner$78,050
Huntsville
$74,714
Median household income is $78,050 in Madison versus $74,714 in Huntsville, so typical pay runs 4% higher in Madison (about $3,336 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
32% lower crime
Madison's crime index is 32% lower than Huntsville
Madison
Winner91 (100 = avg)
Huntsville
134 (100 = avg)
Madison's crime index is 91 versus 134 in Huntsville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 32% 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. Huntsville can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
81% more comfortable
Huntsville weather is 81% more comfortable than Madison
Madison
48°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 52/100
Huntsville
Winner63°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 94/100
Madison averages about 48°F (57°F highs); Huntsville averages about 63°F (74°F highs). Madison averages around 48°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Huntsville averages around 63°F. Huntsville scores 81% 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 better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 4% 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 32% lower than Huntsville (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.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Huntsville is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 17% cheaper here at about $1,171 a month. Choose Huntsville if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Huntsville if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (63°F) beat Madison on this page's weather index by 81%. Madison may pay more or cost less, but Huntsville is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
Weather separates these metros: $1,171/month rent in Huntsville at 63°F versus $1,413 in Madison at 48°F. Income runs $74,714 vs $78,050, but the daily feel of the move is the temperature gap.
Madison still pays more locally ($78,050 median income vs $74,714), which can offset the lease if your field pays Madison rates.
Typical rent stays $1,171 in Huntsville and $1,413 in Madison.
Between Madison and Huntsville, Huntsville is ahead on climate — 63°F typical weather versus 48°F. Lean Madison instead when you would rather tolerate 48°F than optimize for Huntsville's comfort score.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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