City comparison
No. Madison's crime index is 91 versus 158 in Pittsburgh, and its violent crime index is 68 versus 147, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Pittsburgh is cheaper. Median rent is $1,261 a month versus $1,413 in Madison.
Safety is where Pittsburgh and Madison split most clearly. Madison scores 67 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,261 in Pittsburgh and $1,413 in Madison.
Madison is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Pittsburgh 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 crime gap is citywide. Madison has rougher pockets and Pittsburgh has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Pittsburgh and Madison are 517 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh to $1,413 a month in Madison, up $152 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $65,742 in Pittsburgh to $78,050 in Madison, up $12,308 (19%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Pittsburgh to 91 in Madison, down 67 points (42%).
The move
Madison and Pittsburgh are 517 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,413 a month in Madison to $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh, down $152 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $78,050 in Madison to $65,742 in Pittsburgh, down $12,308 (16%).
The crime index goes from 91 in Madison to 158 in Pittsburgh, up 67 points (74%).
Pittsburgh, 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 Pittsburgh and Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
11% cheaper
Pittsburgh rent is 11% cheaper than Madison
Pittsburgh
Winner$1,261/mo
Madison
$1,413/mo
Typical rent runs $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh versus $1,413 in Madison, so Pittsburgh is 11% 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 $1,824, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Pittsburgh 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 Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
19% higher
Madison's median income is 19% higher than Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh
$65,742
Madison
Winner$78,050
Median household income is $78,050 in Madison versus $65,742 in Pittsburgh, so typical pay runs 19% higher in Madison (about $12,308 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. Pittsburgh can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
42% lower crime
Madison's crime index is 42% lower than Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh
158 (100 = avg)
Madison
Winner91 (100 = avg)
Madison's crime index is 91 versus 158 in Pittsburgh (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 42% 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. Pittsburgh can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
5% more comfortable
Madison weather is 5% more comfortable than Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh
51°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 61/100
Madison
Winner52°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 64/100
Pittsburgh averages about 51°F (58°F highs); Madison averages about 52°F (62°F highs). Pittsburgh averages around 51°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. Madison scores 5% 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 Pittsburgh if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 11% cheaper here at about $1,261 a month. Choose Pittsburgh if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
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 19% higher ($78,050), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 52°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Madison is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 42% lower than Pittsburgh (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
Safety is the widest gap: Madison scores 63/100 versus 46/100 in Pittsburgh. Rent is $1,413/month in Madison and $1,261/month in Pittsburgh, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Pittsburgh rent at $1,261/month is still below Madison's $1,413, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,261 in Pittsburgh and $1,413 in Madison.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Madison; Pittsburgh only makes sense when you have walked the Pittsburgh ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,261 rent.
Common questions
Ready to move to Madison?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Madison when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Pittsburgh and Madison, plus other cities in PA and WI.
