City comparison
No. Madison's crime index is 91 versus 141 in Omaha, and its violent crime index is 68 versus 102, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Omaha is cheaper. Median rent is $1,187 a month versus $1,413 in Madison.
Safety is where Omaha and Madison split most clearly. Madison scores 50 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,187 in Omaha and $1,413 in Madison.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Omaha 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. Omaha at $1,187 average has pockets that run $987 and others at $1,587: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Omaha and Madison are 358 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,187 a month in Omaha to $1,413 a month in Madison, up $226 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $73,201 in Omaha to $78,050 in Madison, up $4,849 (7%).
The crime index goes from 141 in Omaha to 91 in Madison, down 50 points (35%).
The move
Madison and Omaha are 358 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,413 a month in Madison to $1,187 a month in Omaha, down $226 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $78,050 in Madison to $73,201 in Omaha, down $4,849 (6%).
The crime index goes from 91 in Madison to 141 in Omaha, up 50 points (55%).
Omaha, NE
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 Omaha and Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
16% cheaper
Omaha rent is 16% cheaper than Madison
Omaha
Winner$1,187/mo
Madison
$1,413/mo
Typical rent runs $1,187 a month in Omaha versus $1,413 in Madison, so Omaha 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 $2,712, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Omaha 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 Omaha? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
7% higher
Madison's median income is 7% higher than Omaha
Omaha
$73,201
Madison
Winner$78,050
Median household income is $78,050 in Madison versus $73,201 in Omaha, so typical pay runs 7% higher in Madison (about $4,849 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
35% lower crime
Madison's crime index is 35% lower than Omaha
Omaha
141 (100 = avg)
Madison
Winner91 (100 = avg)
Madison's crime index is 91 versus 141 in Omaha (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 35% 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. Omaha can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
30% more comfortable
Omaha weather is 30% more comfortable than Madison
Omaha
Winner59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Madison
52°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 64/100
Omaha averages about 59°F (68°F highs); Madison averages about 52°F (62°F highs). Omaha averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Madison averages around 52°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Omaha scores 30% 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
Omaha is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 16% cheaper here at about $1,187 a month. Choose Omaha if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Omaha if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (59°F) beat Madison on this page's weather index by 30%. Madison may pay more or cost less, but Omaha 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 7% 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 35% lower than Omaha (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 50/100 in Omaha). Typical rent is $1,413 in Madison and $1,187 in Omaha; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Safety still diverges (63/100 in Madison vs 50/100 in Omaha), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,187 in Omaha and $1,413 in Madison.
Madison is ahead on safety (63/100 vs 50/100); Omaha is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,187/month rent plus $73,201 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Omaha and Madison, plus other cities in NE and WI.
