City comparison
No. Madison's crime index is 91 versus 350 in New Orleans, and its violent crime index is 68 versus 393, using 2023 FBI data for New Orleans and 2024-2025 FBI data for Madison.
New Orleans is cheaper. Median rent is $1,251 a month versus $1,413 in Madison.
Safety is where New Orleans and Madison split most clearly. Madison scores 259 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,251 in New Orleans and $1,413 in Madison.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. New Orleans 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 crime gap is citywide. Madison has rougher pockets and New Orleans has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
New Orleans and Madison are 907 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,251 a month in New Orleans to $1,413 a month in Madison, up $162 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $56,631 in New Orleans to $78,050 in Madison, up $21,419 (38%).
The crime index goes from 350 in New Orleans to 91 in Madison, down 259 points (74%).
The move
Madison and New Orleans are 907 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,413 a month in Madison to $1,251 a month in New Orleans, down $162 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $78,050 in Madison to $56,631 in New Orleans, down $21,419 (27%).
The crime index goes from 91 in Madison to 350 in New Orleans, up 259 points (285%).
New Orleans, LA
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 New Orleans and Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
11% cheaper
New Orleans rent is 11% cheaper than Madison
New Orleans
Winner$1,251/mo
Madison
$1,413/mo
Typical rent runs $1,251 a month in New Orleans versus $1,413 in Madison, so New Orleans 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 $1,944, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. New Orleans 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 New Orleans? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
38% higher
Madison's median income is 38% higher than New Orleans
New Orleans
$56,631
Madison
Winner$78,050
Median household income is $78,050 in Madison versus $56,631 in New Orleans, so typical pay runs 38% higher in Madison (about $21,419 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. New Orleans can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
74% lower crime
Madison's crime index is 74% lower than New Orleans
New Orleans
350 (100 = avg)
Madison
Winner91 (100 = avg)
Madison's crime index is 91 versus 350 in New Orleans (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 74% 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. New Orleans can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
56% more comfortable
New Orleans weather is 56% more comfortable than Madison
New Orleans
Winner73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Madison
52°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 64/100
New Orleans averages about 73°F (81°F highs); Madison averages about 52°F (62°F highs). New Orleans sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Madison averages around 52°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. New Orleans 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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
New Orleans is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 11% cheaper here at about $1,251 a month. Choose New Orleans if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick New Orleans if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (73°F) beat Madison on this page's weather index by 56%. Madison may pay more or cost less, but New Orleans 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 38% 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 74% lower than New Orleans (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
New Orleans carries the heavier crime signal on this page (22/100 safety vs 63/100 in Madison). That 41-point spread matters more than the $162 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (63/100 in Madison vs 22/100 in New Orleans), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $78,050 in Madison versus $56,631 in New Orleans.
Madison clears the bar on safety in this dataset. New Orleans deserves a serious look only when you already know the New Orleans 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
Open full neighborhood reports for New Orleans and Madison, plus other cities in LA and WI.
