Is Cleveland cheaper than Madison?

Yes. Typical rent in Cleveland is $1,279 a month versus $1,694 in Madison — 24% cheaper. Median household income is $37,271 in Cleveland compared with $74,895 in Madison, so Madison has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Cleveland or Madison?

Madison is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 71 versus 86 in Cleveland — 17% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Cleveland or Madison?

School composites are close: A- in Cleveland and A- in Madison. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

Cleveland, OH vs Madison, WI

Cleveland, OH versus Madison, WI is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,279 a month in Cleveland and $1,694 in Madison, and median household income lands at $37,271 versus $74,895. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Cleveland takes affordability and weather, while Madison takes job market and safety. The widest gap is median income, where Madison leads by 101% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Cleveland can feel further apart than Cleveland and Madison do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Cleveland and Madison reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Cleveland report Full Madison report

Cleveland, OH

Rent: $1,279/mo
Median income: $37,271
Crime index: 86
Schools: A-
Weather: 69°F

Madison, WI

Rent: $1,694/mo
Median income: $74,895
Crime index: 71
Schools: A-
Weather: 66°F

Rent

24% cheaper

Cleveland rent is 24% cheaper than Madison

Cleveland

Winner

$1,279/mo

Madison

$1,694/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,279 a month in Cleveland versus $1,694 in Madison, so Cleveland is 24% cheaper. That's roughly $415/month back in your pocket — $4,980/year. Over five years that's $24,900 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, Cleveland is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

101% higher

Madison's median income is 101% higher than Cleveland

Cleveland

$37,271

Madison

Winner

$74,895

What this means for your life

Median household income is $74,895 in Madison versus $37,271 in Cleveland, so typical pay runs 101% higher in Madison — about $37,624 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. Cleveland can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.

Crime index

17% lower crime

Madison's crime index is 17% lower than Cleveland

Cleveland

86 (100 = avg)

Madison

Winner

71 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Madison's crime index is 71 versus 86 in Cleveland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 17% 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. Cleveland can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

Cleveland and Madison are about even on school scores.

Cleveland

A- · 84/100

Madison

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Cleveland, A- in Madison). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

9% more comfortable

Cleveland weather is 9% more comfortable than Madison

Cleveland

Winner

69°F typical

Madison

66°F typical

What this means for your life

Cleveland scores 9% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 69°F in Cleveland and 66°F in Madison. Cleveland reads as mild, livable temperatures; Madison reads as mild, livable temperatures. The comfort edge is real but not a personality transplant. If you already know you want Madison's season, a modest index lead should not talk you out of it. If you are undecided, Cleveland is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Fit check

Who should choose Cleveland

Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing

Cleveland is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 24% cheaper here at about $1,279 a month. Choose Cleveland if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Pick Cleveland if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (69°F) beat Madison on this page's weather index by 9%. Madison may pay more or cost less, but Cleveland is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Open the Cleveland report →

Fit check

Who should choose Madison

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 101% higher here ($74,895). 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 17% lower than Cleveland (71 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.

Open the Madison report →

Bottom line

Cleveland vs Madison, called

If the job market is your priority, Madison is the clear choice.

If cost of living matters more to you, Cleveland pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Cleveland offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Cleveland vs Madison FAQ

Is Cleveland cheaper than Madison?: Yes. Typical rent in Cleveland is $1,279 a month versus $1,694 in Madison — 24% cheaper. Median household income is $37,271 in Cleveland compared with $74,895 in Madison, so Madison has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Cleveland or Madison?: Madison is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 71 versus 86 in Cleveland — 17% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Cleveland or Madison?: School composites are close: A- in Cleveland and A- in Madison. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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