City comparison
No. Madison's crime index is 91 versus 142 in Raleigh, and its violent crime index is 68 versus 128, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Madison is cheaper. Median rent is $1,413 a month versus $1,572 in Raleigh.
Safety is where Raleigh and Madison split most clearly. Madison scores 51 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,572 in Raleigh and $1,413 in Madison.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Madison costs less and Raleigh 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 Raleigh has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Raleigh and Madison are 763 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,572 a month in Raleigh to $1,413 a month in Madison, down $159 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $85,395 in Raleigh to $78,050 in Madison, down $7,345 (9%).
The crime index goes from 142 in Raleigh to 91 in Madison, down 51 points (36%).
The move
Madison and Raleigh are 763 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,413 a month in Madison to $1,572 a month in Raleigh, up $159 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $78,050 in Madison to $85,395 in Raleigh, up $7,345 (9%).
The crime index goes from 91 in Madison to 142 in Raleigh, up 51 points (56%).
Raleigh, NC
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 Raleigh and Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
10% cheaper
Madison rent is 10% cheaper than Raleigh
Raleigh
$1,572/mo
Madison
Winner$1,413/mo
Typical rent runs $1,413 a month in Madison versus $1,572 in Raleigh, so Madison is 10% 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 $1,908, 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 Raleigh.
Planning to buy in Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
9% higher
Raleigh's median income is 9% higher than Madison
Raleigh
Winner$85,395
Madison
$78,050
Median household income is $85,395 in Raleigh versus $78,050 in Madison, so typical pay runs 9% higher in Raleigh (about $7,345 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
36% lower crime
Madison's crime index is 36% lower than Raleigh
Raleigh
142 (100 = avg)
Madison
Winner91 (100 = avg)
Madison's crime index is 91 versus 142 in Raleigh (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 36% 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. Raleigh can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
34% more comfortable
Raleigh weather is 34% more comfortable than Madison
Raleigh
Winner60°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 86/100
Madison
52°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 64/100
Raleigh averages about 60°F (69°F highs); Madison averages about 52°F (62°F highs). Raleigh averages around 60°F. Madison averages around 52°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Raleigh scores 34% 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 9% higher ($85,395), 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 10% 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 36% lower than Raleigh (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 49/100 in Raleigh). Typical rent is $1,413 in Madison and $1,572 in Raleigh; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Safety still diverges (63/100 in Madison vs 49/100 in Raleigh), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,413 in Madison and $1,572 in Raleigh.
Madison is ahead on safety (63/100 vs 49/100); Raleigh is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,572/month rent plus $85,395 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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Next steps
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