City comparison
No. Madison's crime index is 91 versus 242 in Orlando, and its violent crime index is 68 versus 241, using 2022 FBI data for Orlando and 2024-2025 FBI data for Madison.
Madison is cheaper. Median rent is $1,413 a month versus $1,747 in Orlando.
Safety is where Orlando and Madison split most clearly. Madison scores 151 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,747 in Orlando and $1,413 in Madison.
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. Orlando 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 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
Orlando and Madison are 1,099 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,747 a month in Orlando to $1,413 a month in Madison, down $334 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $72,336 in Orlando to $78,050 in Madison, up $5,714 (8%).
The crime index goes from 242 in Orlando to 91 in Madison, down 151 points (62%).
The move
Madison and Orlando are 1,099 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,413 a month in Madison to $1,747 a month in Orlando, up $334 a month (24%).
Median household income goes from $78,050 in Madison to $72,336 in Orlando, down $5,714 (7%).
The crime index goes from 91 in Madison to 242 in Orlando, up 151 points (166%).
Orlando, FL
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 Orlando and Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
19% cheaper
Madison rent is 19% cheaper than Orlando
Orlando
$1,747/mo
Madison
Winner$1,413/mo
Typical rent runs $1,413 a month in Madison versus $1,747 in Orlando, so Madison is 19% 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 $4,008, 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 Orlando.
Planning to buy in Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
8% higher
Madison's median income is 8% higher than Orlando
Orlando
$72,336
Madison
Winner$78,050
Median household income is $78,050 in Madison versus $72,336 in Orlando, so typical pay runs 8% higher in Madison (about $5,714 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
62% lower crime
Madison's crime index is 62% lower than Orlando
Orlando
242 (100 = avg)
Madison
Winner91 (100 = avg)
Madison's crime index is 91 versus 242 in Orlando (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 62% 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. Orlando can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
56% more comfortable
Orlando weather is 56% more comfortable than Madison
Orlando
Winner71°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Madison
52°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 64/100
Orlando averages about 71°F (77°F highs); Madison averages about 52°F (62°F highs). Orlando sits near 71°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. Orlando 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
Pick Orlando if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (71°F) beat Madison on this page's weather index by 56%. Madison may pay more or cost less, but Orlando 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 19% 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 8% 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 62% lower than Orlando (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 33/100 in Orlando). Typical rent is $1,413 in Madison and $1,747 in Orlando; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Safety still diverges (63/100 in Madison vs 33/100 in Orlando), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,413 in Madison and $1,747 in Orlando.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Madison; Orlando only makes sense when you have walked the Orlando ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,747 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Madison when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Orlando and Madison, plus other cities in FL and WI.
