City comparison
No. Madison's crime index is 91 versus 233 in Stockton, and its violent crime index is 68 versus 314, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Madison is cheaper. Median rent is $1,413 a month versus $1,577 in Stockton.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Stockton and Madison. Stockton averages 67°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 $1,577 versus $1,413.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Madison costs less and Stockton 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 Stockton has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Stockton and Madison are 1,701 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,577 a month in Stockton to $1,413 a month in Madison, down $164 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $79,907 in Stockton to $78,050 in Madison, down $1,857 (2%).
The crime index goes from 233 in Stockton to 91 in Madison, down 142 points (61%).
The move
Madison and Stockton are 1,701 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,413 a month in Madison to $1,577 a month in Stockton, up $164 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $78,050 in Madison to $79,907 in Stockton, up $1,857 (2%).
The crime index goes from 91 in Madison to 233 in Stockton, up 142 points (156%).
Stockton, 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 Stockton and Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
10% cheaper
Madison rent is 10% cheaper than Stockton
Stockton
$1,577/mo
Madison
Winner$1,413/mo
Typical rent runs $1,413 a month in Madison versus $1,577 in Stockton, 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 $1,968, 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 Stockton.
Planning to buy in Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
2% higher
Stockton's median income is 2% higher than Madison
Stockton
Winner$79,907
Madison
$78,050
Median household income is $79,907 in Stockton versus $78,050 in Madison, so typical pay runs 2% higher in Stockton (about $1,857 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
61% lower crime
Madison's crime index is 61% lower than Stockton
Stockton
233 (100 = avg)
Madison
Winner91 (100 = avg)
Madison's crime index is 91 versus 233 in Stockton (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 61% 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. Stockton can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
92% more comfortable
Stockton weather is 92% more comfortable than Madison
Stockton
Winner67°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Madison
48°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 52/100
Stockton averages about 67°F (78°F highs); Madison averages about 48°F (57°F highs). Stockton sits near 67°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. Stockton 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 2% higher ($79,907), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 67°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 61% lower than Stockton (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
Safety is the widest gap: Madison scores 63/100 versus 34/100 in Stockton. Rent is $1,413/month in Madison and $1,577/month in Stockton, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Safety still diverges (63/100 in Madison vs 34/100 in Stockton), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,413 in Madison and $1,577 in Stockton.
Between Stockton and Madison, Madison is ahead on safety — 63/100 safety versus 34/100. Lean Stockton instead when you already know the Stockton block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Stockton and Madison, plus other cities in CA and WI.
