City comparison
No. Madison's crime index is 91 versus 156 in Tucson, and its violent crime index is 68 versus 146, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Tucson is cheaper. Median rent is $1,145 a month versus $1,413 in Madison.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Tucson and Madison. Tucson averages 77°F while Madison averages 52°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,145 versus $1,413.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Tucson 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 rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Tucson at $1,145 average has pockets that run $945 and others at $1,545: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Tucson and Madison are 1,390 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,145 a month in Tucson to $1,413 a month in Madison, up $268 a month (23%).
Median household income goes from $57,073 in Tucson to $78,050 in Madison, up $20,977 (37%).
The crime index goes from 156 in Tucson to 91 in Madison, down 65 points (42%).
The move
Madison and Tucson are 1,390 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,413 a month in Madison to $1,145 a month in Tucson, down $268 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $78,050 in Madison to $57,073 in Tucson, down $20,977 (27%).
The crime index goes from 91 in Madison to 156 in Tucson, up 65 points (71%).
Tucson, AZ
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 Tucson and Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
19% cheaper
Tucson rent is 19% cheaper than Madison
Tucson
Winner$1,145/mo
Madison
$1,413/mo
Typical rent runs $1,145 a month in Tucson versus $1,413 in Madison, so Tucson is 19% 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 $3,216, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Tucson still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Madison.
Planning to buy in Tucson? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
37% higher
Madison's median income is 37% higher than Tucson
Tucson
$57,073
Madison
Winner$78,050
Median household income is $78,050 in Madison versus $57,073 in Tucson, so typical pay runs 37% higher in Madison (about $20,977 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. Tucson 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 Tucson
Tucson
156 (100 = avg)
Madison
Winner91 (100 = avg)
Madison's crime index is 91 versus 156 in Tucson (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. Tucson can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
56% more comfortable
Tucson weather is 56% more comfortable than Madison
Tucson
Winner77°F avg · 84°F highs · comfort 100/100
Madison
52°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 64/100
Tucson averages about 77°F (84°F highs); Madison averages about 52°F (62°F highs). Tucson sits near 77°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. Tucson 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
Tucson is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 19% cheaper here at about $1,145 a month. Choose Tucson if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Tucson if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (77°F) beat Madison on this page's weather index by 56%. Madison may pay more or cost less, but Tucson 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 37% 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 42% lower than Tucson (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
On weather alone, Tucson is the warmer market (77°F) and Madison the cooler (52°F). Typical leases run $1,145 and $1,413; choose the climate you will tolerate year-round, not just on a visit weekend.
Tucson rent at $1,145/month is still below Madison's $1,413, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $78,050 in Madison versus $57,073 in Tucson.
Most movers who prioritize climate land in Tucson; Madison only makes sense when 52°F matches how you want to live year-round.
Common questions
Ready to move to Tucson?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Tucson when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Tucson and Madison, plus other cities in AZ and WI.
