City comparison
No. Madison's crime index is 91 versus 212 in San Antonio, and its violent crime index is 68 versus 164, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
San Antonio is cheaper. Median rent is $1,324 a month versus $1,413 in Madison.
Safety is where San Antonio and Madison split most clearly. Madison scores 121 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,324 in San Antonio and $1,413 in Madison.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. San Antonio costs less and Madison 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 San Antonio has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
San Antonio and Madison are 1,069 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,324 a month in San Antonio to $1,413 a month in Madison, up $89 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $65,056 in San Antonio to $78,050 in Madison, up $12,994 (20%).
The crime index goes from 212 in San Antonio to 91 in Madison, down 121 points (57%).
The move
Madison and San Antonio are 1,069 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,413 a month in Madison to $1,324 a month in San Antonio, down $89 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $78,050 in Madison to $65,056 in San Antonio, down $12,994 (17%).
The crime index goes from 91 in Madison to 212 in San Antonio, up 121 points (133%).
San Antonio, 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 San Antonio and Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
6% cheaper
San Antonio rent is 6% cheaper than Madison
San Antonio
Winner$1,324/mo
Madison
$1,413/mo
Typical rent runs $1,324 a month in San Antonio versus $1,413 in Madison, so San Antonio is 6% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $89, or $1,068 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in San Antonio? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
20% higher
Madison's median income is 20% higher than San Antonio
San Antonio
$65,056
Madison
Winner$78,050
Median household income is $78,050 in Madison versus $65,056 in San Antonio, so typical pay runs 20% higher in Madison (about $12,994 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. San Antonio can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
57% lower crime
Madison's crime index is 57% lower than San Antonio
San Antonio
212 (100 = avg)
Madison
Winner91 (100 = avg)
Madison's crime index is 91 versus 212 in San Antonio (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 57% 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. San Antonio can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
56% more comfortable
San Antonio weather is 56% more comfortable than Madison
San Antonio
Winner72°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Madison
52°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 64/100
San Antonio averages about 72°F (82°F highs); Madison averages about 52°F (62°F highs). San Antonio sits near 72°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. San Antonio 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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
San Antonio is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 6% cheaper here at about $1,324 a month. Choose San Antonio if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick San Antonio if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (72°F) beat Madison on this page's weather index by 56%. Madison may pay more or cost less, but San Antonio is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Madison is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 20% higher here ($78,050). Start with Madison if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Madison is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 57% lower than San Antonio (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 37/100 in San Antonio). Typical rent is $1,413 in Madison and $1,324 in San Antonio; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Safety still diverges (63/100 in Madison vs 37/100 in San Antonio), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $78,050 in Madison versus $65,056 in San Antonio.
Madison is ahead on safety (63/100 vs 37/100); San Antonio is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,324/month rent plus $65,056 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
Ready to move to San Antonio?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for San Antonio when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for San Antonio and Madison, plus other cities in TX and WI.
