City comparison
No. Madison's crime index is 91 versus 434 in Oakland, and its violent crime index is 68 versus 491, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Madison is cheaper. Median rent is $1,413 a month versus $1,979 in Oakland.
Safety is where Oakland and Madison split most clearly. Madison scores 343 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,979 in Oakland and $1,413 in Madison.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Madison costs less and Oakland 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. Madison at $1,413 average has pockets that run $1,213 and others at $1,813: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Oakland and Madison are 1,755 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,979 a month in Oakland to $1,413 a month in Madison, down $566 a month (29%).
Median household income goes from $101,600 in Oakland to $78,050 in Madison, down $23,550 (23%).
The crime index goes from 434 in Oakland to 91 in Madison, down 343 points (79%).
The move
Madison and Oakland are 1,755 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,413 a month in Madison to $1,979 a month in Oakland, up $566 a month (40%).
Median household income goes from $78,050 in Madison to $101,600 in Oakland, up $23,550 (30%).
The crime index goes from 91 in Madison to 434 in Oakland, up 343 points (377%).
Oakland, CA
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 Oakland and Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
29% cheaper
Madison rent is 29% cheaper than Oakland
Oakland
$1,979/mo
Madison
Winner$1,413/mo
Typical rent runs $1,413 a month in Madison versus $1,979 in Oakland, so Madison is 29% cheaper. That's roughly $566/month back in your pocket ($6,792/year). Over five years that's $33,960 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Oakland, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Madison is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
30% higher
Oakland's median income is 30% higher than Madison
Oakland
Winner$101,600
Madison
$78,050
Median household income is $101,600 in Oakland versus $78,050 in Madison, so typical pay runs 30% higher in Oakland (about $23,550 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, Oakland is the stronger labor market on paper. Madison can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
79% lower crime
Madison's crime index is 79% lower than Oakland
Oakland
434 (100 = avg)
Madison
Winner91 (100 = avg)
Madison's crime index is 91 versus 434 in Oakland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 79% 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. Oakland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
56% more comfortable
Oakland weather is 56% more comfortable than Madison
Oakland
Winner68°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
Madison
52°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 64/100
Oakland averages about 68°F (80°F highs); Madison averages about 52°F (62°F highs). Oakland sits near 68°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. Oakland 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 plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 30% higher ($101,600), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 68°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Madison is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 29% 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 fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 79% lower than Oakland (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
Oakland carries the heavier crime signal on this page (15/100 safety vs 63/100 in Madison). That 48-point spread matters more than the $566 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Oakland still pays more locally ($101,600 median income vs $78,050), which can offset the lease if your field pays Oakland rates.
Weather averages land near 68°F in Oakland and 52°F in Madison.
Madison clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Oakland deserves a serious look only when you already know the Oakland 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 Oakland and Madison, plus other cities in CA and WI.
