Is Madison cheaper than Irving?

Yes. Typical rent in Madison is $1,694 a month versus $1,931 in Irving — 12% cheaper. Median household income is $74,895 in Madison compared with $76,686 in Irving, so Irving has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Madison or Irving?

Madison is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 71 versus 109 in Irving — 35% 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, Madison or Irving?

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

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City comparison

Madison, WI vs Irving, TX

Madison, WI versus Irving, TX 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 $1,694 a month in Madison and $1,931 in Irving, and median household income lands at $74,895 versus $76,686. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Madison takes affordability, safety, and weather, while Irving takes job market. The widest gap is typical weather, where Madison leads by 109% — 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 Madison can feel further apart than Madison and Irving do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Madison and Irving reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Madison report Full Irving report

Madison, WI

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

Irving, TX

Rent: $1,931/mo
Median income: $76,686
Crime index: 109
Schools: A-
Weather: 93°F

Rent

12% cheaper

Madison rent is 12% cheaper than Irving

Madison

Winner

$1,694/mo

Irving

$1,931/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,694 a month in Madison versus $1,931 in Irving, so Madison is 12% 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 $2,844 — 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 Irving.

Median income

2% higher

Irving's median income is 2% higher than Madison

Madison

$74,895

Irving

Winner

$76,686

What this means for your life

Median household income is $76,686 in Irving versus $74,895 in Madison, so typical pay runs 2% higher in Irving — about $1,791 more household income a year. The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.

Crime index

35% lower crime

Madison's crime index is 35% lower than Irving

Madison

Winner

71 (100 = avg)

Irving

109 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Madison's crime index is 71 versus 109 in Irving (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 35% 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. Irving can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

Madison and Irving are about even on school scores.

Madison

A- · 84/100

Irving

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Madison, A- in Irving). 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

109% more comfortable

Madison weather is 109% more comfortable than Irving

Madison

Winner

66°F typical

Irving

93°F typical

What this means for your life

Madison scores 109% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 66°F in Madison and 93°F in Irving. Madison reads as mild, livable temperatures; Irving reads as hot, long summers. Climate affects quality of life more than most people anticipate when planning a move. Consider how much time you spend outdoors and whether extreme heat or cold impacts your mood or productivity. Madison is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Irving can still be right if you love that climate on purpose — beach heat, dry heat, or a real winter — but you cannot return a city's weather.

Fit check

Who should choose Madison

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

Madison is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 12% 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.

Pick Madison if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (66°F) beat Irving on this page's weather index by 109%. Irving may pay more or cost less, but Madison is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Madison is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 35% lower than Irving (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 →

Fit check

Who should choose Irving

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Irving is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 2% higher here ($76,686). Start with Irving if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Open the Irving report →

Bottom line

Madison vs Irving, called

If weather is your priority, Madison is the clear choice.

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

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

Common questions

Madison vs Irving FAQ

Is Madison cheaper than Irving?: Yes. Typical rent in Madison is $1,694 a month versus $1,931 in Irving — 12% cheaper. Median household income is $74,895 in Madison compared with $76,686 in Irving, so Irving has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Madison or Irving?: Madison is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 71 versus 109 in Irving — 35% 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, Madison or Irving?: School composites are close: A- in Madison and A- in Irving. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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