City comparison
No. Madison's crime index is 91 versus 265 in Portland, and its violent crime index is 68 versus 207, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Madison is cheaper. Median rent is $1,413 a month versus $1,655 in Portland.
Safety is where Portland and Madison split most clearly. Madison scores 174 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,655 in Portland and $1,413 in Madison.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Madison costs less and Portland 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 Portland has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Portland and Madison are 1,642 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,655 a month in Portland to $1,413 a month in Madison, down $242 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $90,919 in Portland to $78,050 in Madison, down $12,869 (14%).
The crime index goes from 265 in Portland to 91 in Madison, down 174 points (66%).
The move
Madison and Portland are 1,642 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,413 a month in Madison to $1,655 a month in Portland, up $242 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $78,050 in Madison to $90,919 in Portland, up $12,869 (16%).
The crime index goes from 91 in Madison to 265 in Portland, up 174 points (191%).
Portland, OR
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 Portland and Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
15% cheaper
Madison rent is 15% cheaper than Portland
Portland
$1,655/mo
Madison
Winner$1,413/mo
Typical rent runs $1,413 a month in Madison versus $1,655 in Portland, so Madison is 15% 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 $2,904, 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 Portland.
Planning to buy in Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
16% higher
Portland's median income is 16% higher than Madison
Portland
Winner$90,919
Madison
$78,050
Median household income is $90,919 in Portland versus $78,050 in Madison, so typical pay runs 16% higher in Portland (about $12,869 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, Portland 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
66% lower crime
Madison's crime index is 66% lower than Portland
Portland
265 (100 = avg)
Madison
Winner91 (100 = avg)
Madison's crime index is 91 versus 265 in Portland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 66% 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. Portland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
65% more comfortable
Portland weather is 65% more comfortable than Madison
Portland
Winner60°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 86/100
Madison
48°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 52/100
Portland averages about 60°F (68°F highs); Madison averages about 48°F (57°F highs). Portland averages around 60°F. Madison averages around 48°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Portland scores 65% 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 16% higher ($90,919), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 60°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Madison is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 15% 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 fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 66% lower than Portland (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 30/100 in Portland). Typical rent is $1,413 in Madison and $1,655 in Portland; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Safety still diverges (63/100 in Madison vs 30/100 in Portland), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,413 in Madison and $1,655 in Portland.
Madison is ahead on safety (63/100 vs 30/100); Portland is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,655/month rent plus $90,919 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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