City comparison
No. Madison's crime index is 91 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 68 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Memphis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,181 a month versus $1,413 in Madison.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Memphis and Madison. Memphis averages 68°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 $1,181 versus $1,413.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Memphis 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. Memphis at $1,181 average has pockets that run $981 and others at $1,581: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Memphis and Madison are 549 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $1,413 a month in Madison, up $232 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $78,050 in Madison, up $26,314 (51%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 91 in Madison, down 404 points (82%).
The move
Madison and Memphis are 549 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,413 a month in Madison to $1,181 a month in Memphis, down $232 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $78,050 in Madison to $51,736 in Memphis, down $26,314 (34%).
The crime index goes from 91 in Madison to 495 in Memphis, up 404 points (444%).
Memphis, TN
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 Memphis and Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
16% cheaper
Memphis rent is 16% cheaper than Madison
Memphis
Winner$1,181/mo
Madison
$1,413/mo
Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $1,413 in Madison, so Memphis is 16% 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 $2,784, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Memphis 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 Memphis? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
51% higher
Madison's median income is 51% higher than Memphis
Memphis
$51,736
Madison
Winner$78,050
Median household income is $78,050 in Madison versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 51% higher in Madison (about $26,314 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, Madison is the stronger labor market on paper. Memphis can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
82% lower crime
Madison's crime index is 82% lower than Memphis
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Madison
Winner91 (100 = avg)
Madison's crime index is 91 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 82% 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. Memphis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
92% more comfortable
Memphis weather is 92% more comfortable than Madison
Memphis
Winner68°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Madison
48°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 52/100
Memphis averages about 68°F (78°F highs); Madison averages about 48°F (57°F highs). Memphis sits near 68°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. Memphis 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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Memphis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 16% cheaper here at about $1,181 a month. Choose Memphis if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Memphis if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (68°F) beat Madison on this page's weather index by 92%. Madison may pay more or cost less, but Memphis is the city where the forecast fights you less.
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 51% 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 82% lower than Memphis (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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Madison leads on safety (63/100 vs 11/100 in Memphis). Typical rent is $1,413 in Madison and $1,181 in Memphis; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Safety still diverges (63/100 in Madison vs 11/100 in Memphis), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $78,050 in Madison versus $51,736 in Memphis.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Madison; Memphis only makes sense when you have walked the Memphis ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,181 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Memphis when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Memphis and Madison, plus other cities in TN and WI.
