City comparison
No. Madison's crime index is 91 versus 183 in Oklahoma City, and its violent crime index is 68 versus 197, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Oklahoma City is cheaper. Median rent is $1,130 a month versus $1,413 in Madison.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Oklahoma City and Madison. Oklahoma City averages 61°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 $1,130 versus $1,413.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Oklahoma City 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. Oklahoma City at $1,130 average has pockets that run $930 and others at $1,530: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Oklahoma City and Madison are 681 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,130 a month in Oklahoma City to $1,413 a month in Madison, up $283 a month (25%).
Median household income goes from $68,656 in Oklahoma City to $78,050 in Madison, up $9,394 (14%).
The crime index goes from 183 in Oklahoma City to 91 in Madison, down 92 points (50%).
The move
Madison and Oklahoma City are 681 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,413 a month in Madison to $1,130 a month in Oklahoma City, down $283 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $78,050 in Madison to $68,656 in Oklahoma City, down $9,394 (12%).
The crime index goes from 91 in Madison to 183 in Oklahoma City, up 92 points (101%).
Oklahoma City, OK
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 Oklahoma City and Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
20% cheaper
Oklahoma City rent is 20% cheaper than Madison
Oklahoma City
Winner$1,130/mo
Madison
$1,413/mo
Typical rent runs $1,130 a month in Oklahoma City versus $1,413 in Madison, so Oklahoma City is 20% 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 $3,396, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Oklahoma City 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 Oklahoma City? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
14% higher
Madison's median income is 14% higher than Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City
$68,656
Madison
Winner$78,050
Median household income is $78,050 in Madison versus $68,656 in Oklahoma City, so typical pay runs 14% higher in Madison (about $9,394 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. Oklahoma City can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
50% lower crime
Madison's crime index is 50% lower than Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City
183 (100 = avg)
Madison
Winner91 (100 = avg)
Madison's crime index is 91 versus 183 in Oklahoma City (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 50% 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. Oklahoma City can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
71% more comfortable
Oklahoma City weather is 71% more comfortable than Madison
Oklahoma City
Winner61°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 89/100
Madison
48°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 52/100
Oklahoma City averages about 61°F (69°F highs); Madison averages about 48°F (57°F highs). Oklahoma City averages around 61°F. Madison averages around 48°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Oklahoma City scores 71% 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
Oklahoma City is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 20% cheaper here at about $1,130 a month. Choose Oklahoma City if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Oklahoma City if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (61°F) beat Madison on this page's weather index by 71%. Madison may pay more or cost less, but Oklahoma City 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 14% 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 50% lower than Oklahoma City (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
Oklahoma City carries the heavier crime signal on this page (42/100 safety vs 63/100 in Madison). That 21-point spread matters more than the $283 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (63/100 in Madison vs 42/100 in Oklahoma City), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,130 in Oklahoma City and $1,413 in Madison.
Madison clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Oklahoma City deserves a serious look only when you already know the Oklahoma City 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 Oklahoma City and Madison, plus other cities in OK and WI.
