City comparison
Yes. Plano's crime index is 62 versus 91 in Madison, and its violent crime index is 43 versus 68, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Madison is cheaper. Median rent is $1,413 a month versus $1,841 in Plano.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Plano and Madison. Plano averages 69°F while Madison averages 52°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,841 versus $1,413.
Plano is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Madison makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Plano 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
Plano and Madison are 799 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,841 a month in Plano to $1,413 a month in Madison, down $428 a month (23%).
Median household income goes from $112,253 in Plano to $78,050 in Madison, down $34,203 (30%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Plano to 91 in Madison, up 29 points (47%).
The move
Madison and Plano are 799 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,413 a month in Madison to $1,841 a month in Plano, up $428 a month (30%).
Median household income goes from $78,050 in Madison to $112,253 in Plano, up $34,203 (44%).
The crime index goes from 91 in Madison to 62 in Plano, down 29 points (32%).
Plano, TX
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 Plano and Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
23% cheaper
Madison rent is 23% cheaper than Plano
Plano
$1,841/mo
Madison
Winner$1,413/mo
Typical rent runs $1,413 a month in Madison versus $1,841 in Plano, so Madison is 23% cheaper. That's roughly $428/month back in your pocket ($5,136/year). Over five years that's $25,680 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Plano, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Madison is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
44% higher
Plano's median income is 44% higher than Madison
Plano
Winner$112,253
Madison
$78,050
Median household income is $112,253 in Plano versus $78,050 in Madison, so typical pay runs 44% higher in Plano (about $34,203 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, Plano is the stronger labor market on paper. Madison can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
32% lower crime
Plano's crime index is 32% lower than Madison
Plano
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Madison
91 (100 = avg)
Plano's crime index is 62 versus 91 in Madison (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 32% lower in Plano. 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, Plano is the easier city. Madison can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
56% more comfortable
Plano weather is 56% more comfortable than Madison
Plano
Winner69°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Madison
52°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 64/100
Plano averages about 69°F (77°F highs); Madison averages about 52°F (62°F highs). Plano sits near 69°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. Plano 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
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 44% higher ($112,253), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 69°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Plano is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 32% lower than Madison (62 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.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Madison
Madison is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 23% 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.
Bottom line
Pay is the headline: Plano median income is $112,253 versus $78,050 in Madison (30% higher). Rent still runs $1,841/month in Plano and $1,413/month in Madison, so the wage edge only helps if your offer matches Plano rates.
Safety still diverges (75/100 in Plano vs 63/100 in Madison), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Safety scores read 75/100 in Plano and 63/100 in Madison.
If local pay drives your move, Plano is the stronger match ($112,253 median income against $78,050). If an employer or family tie already points to Madison, treat $1,413/month rent and $78,050 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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