City comparison
No. Madison's crime index is 91 versus 282 in Nashville, and its violent crime index is 68 versus 309, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Madison is cheaper. Median rent is $1,413 a month versus $1,586 in Nashville.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Nashville and Madison. Nashville averages 64°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 $1,586 versus $1,413.
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. Nashville 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 Nashville has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Nashville and Madison are 497 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,586 a month in Nashville to $1,413 a month in Madison, down $173 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $77,371 in Nashville to $78,050 in Madison, up $679 (1%).
The crime index goes from 282 in Nashville to 91 in Madison, down 191 points (68%).
The move
Madison and Nashville are 497 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,413 a month in Madison to $1,586 a month in Nashville, up $173 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $78,050 in Madison to $77,371 in Nashville, down $679 (1%).
The crime index goes from 91 in Madison to 282 in Nashville, up 191 points (210%).
Nashville, 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 Nashville and Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
11% cheaper
Madison rent is 11% cheaper than Nashville
Nashville
$1,586/mo
Madison
Winner$1,413/mo
Typical rent runs $1,413 a month in Madison versus $1,586 in Nashville, so Madison is 11% 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 $2,076, 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 Nashville.
Planning to buy in Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
1% higher
Madison's median income is 1% higher than Nashville
Nashville
$77,371
Madison
Winner$78,050
Median household income is $78,050 in Madison versus $77,371 in Nashville, so typical pay runs 1% higher in Madison (about $679 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
68% lower crime
Madison's crime index is 68% lower than Nashville
Nashville
282 (100 = avg)
Madison
Winner91 (100 = avg)
Madison's crime index is 91 versus 282 in Nashville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 68% 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. Nashville can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
87% more comfortable
Nashville weather is 87% more comfortable than Madison
Nashville
Winner64°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 97/100
Madison
48°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 52/100
Nashville averages about 64°F (74°F highs); Madison averages about 48°F (57°F highs). Nashville averages around 64°F. Madison averages around 48°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Nashville scores 87% 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
Pick Nashville if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (64°F) beat Madison on this page's weather index by 87%. Madison may pay more or cost less, but Nashville is the city where the forecast fights you less.
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 11% 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 1% 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 68% lower than Nashville (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
Nashville carries the heavier crime signal on this page (28/100 safety vs 63/100 in Madison). That 35-point spread matters more than the $173 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (63/100 in Madison vs 28/100 in Nashville), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,413 in Madison and $1,586 in Nashville.
Madison clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Nashville deserves a serious look only when you already know the Nashville block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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