City comparison
Yes. Virginia Beach's crime index is 62 versus 91 in Madison, and its violent crime index is 29 versus 68, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Madison is cheaper. Median rent is $1,413 a month versus $1,714 in Virginia Beach.
Safety is where Virginia Beach and Madison split most clearly. Virginia Beach scores 29 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,714 in Virginia Beach and $1,413 in Madison.
Virginia Beach is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Madison makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Virginia Beach is the stronger move.
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
Virginia Beach and Madison are 829 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach to $1,413 a month in Madison, down $301 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $92,968 in Virginia Beach to $78,050 in Madison, down $14,918 (16%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Virginia Beach to 91 in Madison, up 29 points (47%).
The move
Madison and Virginia Beach are 829 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,413 a month in Madison to $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach, up $301 a month (21%).
Median household income goes from $78,050 in Madison to $92,968 in Virginia Beach, up $14,918 (19%).
The crime index goes from 91 in Madison to 62 in Virginia Beach, down 29 points (32%).
Virginia Beach, VA
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 Virginia Beach and Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
18% cheaper
Madison rent is 18% cheaper than Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach
$1,714/mo
Madison
Winner$1,413/mo
Typical rent runs $1,413 a month in Madison versus $1,714 in Virginia Beach, so Madison is 18% 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 $3,612, 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 Virginia Beach.
Planning to buy in Virginia Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
19% higher
Virginia Beach's median income is 19% higher than Madison
Virginia Beach
Winner$92,968
Madison
$78,050
Median household income is $92,968 in Virginia Beach versus $78,050 in Madison, so typical pay runs 19% higher in Virginia Beach (about $14,918 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, Virginia Beach 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
32% lower crime
Virginia Beach's crime index is 32% lower than Madison
Virginia Beach
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Madison
91 (100 = avg)
Virginia Beach's crime index is 62 versus 91 in Madison (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 32% lower in Virginia Beach. 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, Virginia Beach is the easier city. Madison can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
30% more comfortable
Virginia Beach weather is 30% more comfortable than Madison
Virginia Beach
Winner59°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 83/100
Madison
52°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 64/100
Virginia Beach averages about 59°F (63°F highs); Madison averages about 52°F (62°F highs). Virginia Beach averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Madison averages around 52°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Virginia Beach scores 30% 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 19% higher ($92,968), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 59°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Virginia Beach is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 32% lower than Madison (62 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.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Madison
Madison is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 18% 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.
Bottom line
Madison carries the heavier crime signal on this page (63/100 safety vs 75/100 in Virginia Beach). That 12-point spread matters more than the $301 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Virginia Beach still pays more locally ($92,968 median income vs $78,050), which can offset the lease if your field pays Virginia Beach rates.
Weather averages land near 59°F in Virginia Beach and 52°F in Madison.
If safety drives your move, Virginia Beach is the stronger match (75/100 safety versus 63/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Madison, treat $1,413/month rent and $78,050 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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