City comparison
No. Madison's crime index is 91 versus 181 in Sacramento, and its violent crime index is 68 versus 213, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Madison is cheaper. Median rent is $1,413 a month versus $1,779 in Sacramento.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Sacramento and Madison. Sacramento averages 66°F while Madison averages 48°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,779 versus $1,413.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Madison costs less and Sacramento 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 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
Sacramento and Madison are 1,696 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,779 a month in Sacramento to $1,413 a month in Madison, down $366 a month (21%).
Median household income goes from $87,321 in Sacramento to $78,050 in Madison, down $9,271 (11%).
The crime index goes from 181 in Sacramento to 91 in Madison, down 90 points (50%).
The move
Madison and Sacramento are 1,696 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,413 a month in Madison to $1,779 a month in Sacramento, up $366 a month (26%).
Median household income goes from $78,050 in Madison to $87,321 in Sacramento, up $9,271 (12%).
The crime index goes from 91 in Madison to 181 in Sacramento, up 90 points (99%).
Sacramento, CA
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 Sacramento and Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
21% cheaper
Madison rent is 21% cheaper than Sacramento
Sacramento
$1,779/mo
Madison
Winner$1,413/mo
Typical rent runs $1,413 a month in Madison versus $1,779 in Sacramento, so Madison is 21% cheaper. That's roughly $366/month back in your pocket ($4,392/year). Over five years that's $21,960 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 Sacramento, 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 Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
12% higher
Sacramento's median income is 12% higher than Madison
Sacramento
Winner$87,321
Madison
$78,050
Median household income is $87,321 in Sacramento versus $78,050 in Madison, so typical pay runs 12% higher in Sacramento (about $9,271 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, Sacramento 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
50% lower crime
Madison's crime index is 50% lower than Sacramento
Sacramento
181 (100 = avg)
Madison
Winner91 (100 = avg)
Madison's crime index is 91 versus 181 in Sacramento (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 50% 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. Sacramento can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
92% more comfortable
Sacramento weather is 92% more comfortable than Madison
Sacramento
Winner66°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Madison
48°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 52/100
Sacramento averages about 66°F (77°F highs); Madison averages about 48°F (57°F highs). Sacramento sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Madison averages around 48°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Sacramento scores 92% 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 12% higher ($87,321), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 66°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 21% 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 50% lower than Sacramento (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 42/100 in Sacramento). Typical rent is $1,413 in Madison and $1,779 in Sacramento; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Safety still diverges (63/100 in Madison vs 42/100 in Sacramento), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,413 in Madison and $1,779 in Sacramento.
Madison is ahead on safety (63/100 vs 42/100); Sacramento is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,779/month rent plus $87,321 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
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 Sacramento and Madison, plus other cities in CA and WI.
