City comparison
No. Madison's crime index is 91 versus 236 in Tulsa, and its violent crime index is 68 versus 257, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Tulsa is cheaper. Median rent is $1,052 a month versus $1,413 in Madison.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Tulsa and Madison. Tulsa averages 62°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 $1,052 versus $1,413.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Tulsa 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. Tulsa at $1,052 average has pockets that run $852 and others at $1,452: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Tulsa and Madison are 593 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,052 a month in Tulsa to $1,413 a month in Madison, up $361 a month (34%).
Median household income goes from $59,838 in Tulsa to $78,050 in Madison, up $18,212 (30%).
The crime index goes from 236 in Tulsa to 91 in Madison, down 145 points (61%).
The move
Madison and Tulsa are 593 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,413 a month in Madison to $1,052 a month in Tulsa, down $361 a month (26%).
Median household income goes from $78,050 in Madison to $59,838 in Tulsa, down $18,212 (23%).
The crime index goes from 91 in Madison to 236 in Tulsa, up 145 points (159%).
Tulsa, OK
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 Tulsa and Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
26% cheaper
Tulsa rent is 26% cheaper than Madison
Tulsa
Winner$1,052/mo
Madison
$1,413/mo
Typical rent runs $1,052 a month in Tulsa versus $1,413 in Madison, so Tulsa is 26% cheaper. That's roughly $361/month back in your pocket ($4,332/year). Over five years that's $21,660 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 Madison, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Tulsa is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Tulsa? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
30% higher
Madison's median income is 30% higher than Tulsa
Tulsa
$59,838
Madison
Winner$78,050
Median household income is $78,050 in Madison versus $59,838 in Tulsa, so typical pay runs 30% higher in Madison (about $18,212 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. Tulsa can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
61% lower crime
Madison's crime index is 61% lower than Tulsa
Tulsa
236 (100 = avg)
Madison
Winner91 (100 = avg)
Madison's crime index is 91 versus 236 in Tulsa (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. Tulsa can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
77% more comfortable
Tulsa weather is 77% more comfortable than Madison
Tulsa
Winner62°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 92/100
Madison
48°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 52/100
Tulsa averages about 62°F (69°F highs); Madison averages about 48°F (57°F highs). Tulsa averages around 62°F. Madison averages around 48°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Tulsa scores 77% 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
Tulsa is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 26% cheaper here at about $1,052 a month. Choose Tulsa if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Tulsa if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (62°F) beat Madison on this page's weather index by 77%. Madison may pay more or cost less, but Tulsa 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 30% 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 61% lower than Tulsa (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 34/100 in Tulsa). Typical rent is $1,413 in Madison and $1,052 in Tulsa; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Safety still diverges (63/100 in Madison vs 34/100 in Tulsa), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,052 in Tulsa and $1,413 in Madison.
Between Tulsa and Madison, Madison is ahead on safety — 63/100 safety versus 34/100. Lean Tulsa instead when you already know the Tulsa block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Tulsa and Madison, plus other cities in OK and WI.
