City comparison
No. Madison's crime index is 91 versus 261 in Philadelphia, and its violent crime index is 68 versus 252, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Philadelphia is cheaper. Median rent is $1,397 a month versus $1,413 in Madison.
Safety is where Philadelphia and Madison split most clearly. Madison scores 170 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,397 in Philadelphia and $1,413 in Madison.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Philadelphia and Madison are 766 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,397 a month in Philadelphia to $1,413 a month in Madison, up $16 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $61,953 in Philadelphia to $78,050 in Madison, up $16,097 (26%).
The crime index goes from 261 in Philadelphia to 91 in Madison, down 170 points (65%).
The move
Madison and Philadelphia are 766 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,413 a month in Madison to $1,397 a month in Philadelphia, down $16 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $78,050 in Madison to $61,953 in Philadelphia, down $16,097 (21%).
The crime index goes from 91 in Madison to 261 in Philadelphia, up 170 points (187%).
Philadelphia, PA
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 Philadelphia and Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
1% cheaper
Philadelphia rent is 1% cheaper than Madison
Philadelphia
Winner$1,397/mo
Madison
$1,413/mo
Typical rent runs $1,397 a month in Philadelphia versus $1,413 in Madison, so Philadelphia is 1% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $16, or $192 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Philadelphia? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
26% higher
Madison's median income is 26% higher than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
$61,953
Madison
Winner$78,050
Median household income is $78,050 in Madison versus $61,953 in Philadelphia, so typical pay runs 26% higher in Madison (about $16,097 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. Philadelphia can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
65% lower crime
Madison's crime index is 65% lower than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
261 (100 = avg)
Madison
Winner91 (100 = avg)
Madison's crime index is 91 versus 261 in Philadelphia (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 65% 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. Philadelphia can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
33% more comfortable
Philadelphia weather is 33% more comfortable than Madison
Philadelphia
Winner54°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 69/100
Madison
48°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 52/100
Philadelphia averages about 54°F (61°F highs); Madison averages about 48°F (57°F highs). Philadelphia averages around 54°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Madison averages around 48°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Philadelphia scores 33% 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
Philadelphia is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 1% cheaper here at about $1,397 a month. Choose Philadelphia if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Philadelphia if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (54°F) beat Madison on this page's weather index by 33%. Madison may pay more or cost less, but Philadelphia 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 26% 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 65% lower than Philadelphia (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
Philadelphia carries the heavier crime signal on this page (31/100 safety vs 63/100 in Madison). That 32-point spread matters more than the $16 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Median income is $78,050 in Madison versus $61,953 in Philadelphia — with rent matched, the paycheck gap matters more.
Weather averages land near 54°F in Philadelphia and 48°F in Madison.
Madison clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Philadelphia deserves a serious look only when you already know the Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia and Madison, plus other cities in PA and WI.
