Is Jersey City cheaper than Madison?

No. Madison is cheaper: typical rent is $1,694 a month versus $2,763 in Jersey City — 39% lower. Median household income is $91,151 in Jersey City compared with $74,895 in Madison, so Jersey City has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Jersey City or Madison?

Jersey City is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 68 versus 71 in Madison — 4% 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, Jersey City or Madison?

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

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City comparison

Jersey City, NJ vs Madison, WI

Jersey City, NJ 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 $2,763 a month in Jersey City and $1,694 in Madison, and median household income lands at $91,151 versus $74,895. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Jersey City takes job market, safety, and weather, while Madison takes affordability. The widest gap is rent, where Madison leads by 39% — 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 Jersey City can feel further apart than Jersey City and Madison do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Jersey City and Madison reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Jersey City report Full Madison report

Jersey City, NJ

Rent: $2,763/mo
Median income: $91,151
Crime index: 68
Schools: A-
Weather: 73°F

Madison, WI

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

Rent

39% cheaper

Madison rent is 39% cheaper than Jersey City

Jersey City

$2,763/mo

Madison

Winner

$1,694/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,694 a month in Madison versus $2,763 in Jersey City, so Madison is 39% cheaper. That's roughly $1,069/month back in your pocket — $12,828/year. Over five years that's $64,140 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 Jersey City, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Madison is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

22% higher

Jersey City's median income is 22% higher than Madison

Jersey City

Winner

$91,151

Madison

$74,895

What this means for your life

Median household income is $91,151 in Jersey City versus $74,895 in Madison, so typical pay runs 22% higher in Jersey City — about $16,256 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, Jersey City 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

4% lower crime

Jersey City's crime index is 4% lower than Madison

Jersey City

Winner

68 (100 = avg)

Madison

71 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Jersey City's crime index is 68 versus 71 in Madison (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 4% lower in Jersey City. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Jersey City, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Madison. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.

School scores

Neck and neck

Jersey City and Madison are about even on school scores.

Jersey City

A- · 84/100

Madison

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Jersey City, 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

3% more comfortable

Jersey City weather is 3% more comfortable than Madison

Jersey City

Winner

73°F typical

Madison

66°F typical

What this means for your life

Jersey City scores 3% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 73°F in Jersey City and 66°F in Madison. Jersey City reads as warm weather most of the year; 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, Jersey City is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Fit check

Who should choose Jersey City

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 22% higher ($91,151), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 73°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Jersey City is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 4% lower than Madison (68 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 Jersey City report →

Fit check

Who should choose Madison

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 39% cheaper here at about $1,694 a month. Choose Madison if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Open the Madison report →

Bottom line

Jersey City vs Madison, called

If cost of living is your priority, Madison is the clear choice.

If the job market matters more to you, Jersey City pulls ahead.

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

Common questions

Jersey City vs Madison FAQ

Is Jersey City cheaper than Madison?: No. Madison is cheaper: typical rent is $1,694 a month versus $2,763 in Jersey City — 39% lower. Median household income is $91,151 in Jersey City compared with $74,895 in Madison, so Jersey City has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Jersey City or Madison?: Jersey City is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 68 versus 71 in Madison — 4% 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, Jersey City or Madison?: School composites are close: A- in Jersey City and A- in Madison. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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