City comparison
Yes. Madison's crime index is 91 versus 165 in St Petersburg, and its violent crime index is 68 versus 167, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Madison and 2023 FBI data for St Petersburg.
Madison is cheaper. Median rent is $1,413 a month versus $1,663 in St Petersburg.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Madison and St Petersburg. Madison averages 52°F while St Petersburg averages 77°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,413 versus $1,663.
Madison is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. St Petersburg makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Madison is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Madison has rougher pockets and St Petersburg has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Madison and St Petersburg are 1,113 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,413 a month in Madison to $1,663 a month in St Petersburg, up $250 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $78,050 in Madison to $75,192 in St Petersburg, down $2,858 (4%).
The crime index goes from 91 in Madison to 165 in St Petersburg, up 74 points (81%).
The move
St Petersburg and Madison are 1,113 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,663 a month in St Petersburg to $1,413 a month in Madison, down $250 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $75,192 in St Petersburg to $78,050 in Madison, up $2,858 (4%).
The crime index goes from 165 in St Petersburg to 91 in Madison, down 74 points (45%).
Madison, WI
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
St Petersburg, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Madison and St Petersburg? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
15% cheaper
Madison rent is 15% cheaper than St Petersburg
Madison
Winner$1,413/mo
St Petersburg
$1,663/mo
Typical rent runs $1,413 a month in Madison versus $1,663 in St Petersburg, so Madison is 15% 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 $3,000, 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 St Petersburg.
Planning to buy in Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
4% higher
Madison's median income is 4% higher than St Petersburg
Madison
Winner$78,050
St Petersburg
$75,192
Median household income is $78,050 in Madison versus $75,192 in St Petersburg, so typical pay runs 4% higher in Madison (about $2,858 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
45% lower crime
Madison's crime index is 45% lower than St Petersburg
Madison
Winner91 (100 = avg)
St Petersburg
165 (100 = avg)
Madison's crime index is 91 versus 165 in St Petersburg (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 45% 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. St Petersburg can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
56% more comfortable
St Petersburg weather is 56% more comfortable than Madison
Madison
52°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 64/100
St Petersburg
Winner77°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Madison averages about 52°F (62°F highs); St Petersburg averages about 77°F (82°F highs). Madison averages around 52°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. St Petersburg sits near 77°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. St Petersburg scores 56% 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 15% 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 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 45% lower than St Petersburg (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
Pick St Petersburg if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (77°F) beat Madison on this page's weather index by 56%. Madison may pay more or cost less, but St Petersburg is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
Weather separates these metros: $1,663/month rent in St Petersburg at 77°F versus $1,413 in Madison at 52°F. Income runs $75,192 vs $78,050, but the daily feel of the move is the temperature gap.
Typical rent stays $1,413 in Madison and $1,663 in St Petersburg.
St Petersburg wins on climate (77°F vs 52°F); Madison is the better fit if $1,413 rent and $78,050 pay matter more than daily weather.
Safety scores read 63/100 in Madison and 45/100 in St Petersburg.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Madison and St Petersburg, plus other cities in WI and FL.
