City comparison
No. Madison's crime index is 91 versus 157 in San Jose, and its violent crime index is 68 versus 161, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Madison is cheaper. Median rent is $1,413 a month versus $2,669 in San Jose.
Climate is the sharpest divide between San Jose and Madison. San Jose 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 $2,669 versus $1,413.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Madison costs less and San Jose 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
San Jose and Madison are 1,748 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,669 a month in San Jose to $1,413 a month in Madison, down $1,256 a month (47%).
Median household income goes from $146,427 in San Jose to $78,050 in Madison, down $68,377 (47%).
The crime index goes from 157 in San Jose to 91 in Madison, down 66 points (42%).
The move
Madison and San Jose are 1,748 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,413 a month in Madison to $2,669 a month in San Jose, up $1,256 a month (89%).
Median household income goes from $78,050 in Madison to $146,427 in San Jose, up $68,377 (88%).
The crime index goes from 91 in Madison to 157 in San Jose, up 66 points (73%).
San Jose, 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 San Jose and Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
47% cheaper
Madison rent is 47% cheaper than San Jose
San Jose
$2,669/mo
Madison
Winner$1,413/mo
Typical rent runs $1,413 a month in Madison versus $2,669 in San Jose, so Madison is 47% cheaper. That's roughly $1,256/month back in your pocket ($15,072/year). Over five years that's $75,360 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 San Jose, 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
88% higher
San Jose's median income is 88% higher than Madison
San Jose
Winner$146,427
Madison
$78,050
Median household income is $146,427 in San Jose versus $78,050 in Madison, so typical pay runs 88% higher in San Jose (about $68,377 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, San Jose 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
42% lower crime
Madison's crime index is 42% lower than San Jose
San Jose
157 (100 = avg)
Madison
Winner91 (100 = avg)
Madison's crime index is 91 versus 157 in San Jose (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 42% 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 Jose can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
92% more comfortable
San Jose weather is 92% more comfortable than Madison
San Jose
Winner66°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Madison
48°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 52/100
San Jose averages about 66°F (76°F highs); Madison averages about 48°F (57°F highs). San Jose 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. San Jose 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 88% higher ($146,427), 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 47% 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 42% lower than San Jose (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
Rent is the clearest fork: Madison at $1,413/month versus $2,669 in San Jose ($1,256 apart). San Jose median income is $146,427 against $78,050 in Madison, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Madison rent at $1,413/month is still below San Jose's $2,669, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 66°F in San Jose and 48°F in Madison.
Pick Madison when shaving $1,256 off rent at $1,413/month is the priority. Otherwise, San Jose's case rests on $2,669/month rent with $146,427 local income.
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 San Jose and Madison, plus other cities in CA and WI.
