Is Louisville cheaper than Madison?

Yes. Typical rent in Louisville is $1,272 a month versus $1,694 in Madison — 25% cheaper. Median household income is $66,296 in Louisville compared with $74,895 in Madison, so Madison has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Louisville or Madison?

Louisville 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, Louisville or Madison?

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

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City comparison

Louisville, KY vs Madison, WI

Louisville, KY 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 $1,272 a month in Louisville and $1,694 in Madison, and median household income lands at $66,296 versus $74,895. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Louisville takes affordability and safety, while Madison takes job market and weather. The widest gap is rent, where Louisville leads by 25% — 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 Louisville can feel further apart than Louisville and Madison do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Louisville and Madison reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Louisville report Full Madison report

Louisville, KY

Rent: $1,272/mo
Median income: $66,296
Crime index: 68
Schools: A-
Weather: 76°F

Madison, WI

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

Rent

25% cheaper

Louisville rent is 25% cheaper than Madison

Louisville

Winner

$1,272/mo

Madison

$1,694/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,272 a month in Louisville versus $1,694 in Madison, so Louisville is 25% cheaper. That's roughly $422/month back in your pocket — $5,064/year. Over five years that's $25,320 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, Louisville is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

13% higher

Madison's median income is 13% higher than Louisville

Louisville

$66,296

Madison

Winner

$74,895

What this means for your life

Median household income is $74,895 in Madison versus $66,296 in Louisville, so typical pay runs 13% higher in Madison — about $8,599 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. Louisville 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

Louisville's crime index is 4% lower than Madison

Louisville

Winner

68 (100 = avg)

Madison

71 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Louisville's crime index is 68 versus 71 in Madison (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 4% lower in Louisville. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Louisville, 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

Louisville and Madison are about even on school scores.

Louisville

A- · 84/100

Madison

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Louisville, 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

6% more comfortable

Madison weather is 6% more comfortable than Louisville

Louisville

76°F typical

Madison

Winner

66°F typical

What this means for your life

Madison scores 6% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 76°F in Louisville and 66°F in Madison. Louisville 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 Louisville's season, a modest index lead should not talk you out of it. If you are undecided, Madison is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Fit check

Who should choose Louisville

Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy

Louisville is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 25% cheaper here at about $1,272 a month. Choose Louisville if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Louisville 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 Louisville report →

Fit check

Who should choose Madison

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 13% higher ($74,895), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 66°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Open the Madison report →

Bottom line

Louisville vs Madison, called

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

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

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

Common questions

Louisville vs Madison FAQ

Is Louisville cheaper than Madison?: Yes. Typical rent in Louisville is $1,272 a month versus $1,694 in Madison — 25% cheaper. Median household income is $66,296 in Louisville compared with $74,895 in Madison, so Madison has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Louisville or Madison?: Louisville 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, Louisville or Madison?: School composites are close: A- in Louisville and A- in Madison. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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