Is Memphis cheaper than Madison?

Yes. Typical rent in Memphis is $1,274 a month versus $1,694 in Madison — 25% cheaper. Median household income is $48,090 in Memphis compared with $74,895 in Madison, so Madison has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Memphis or Madison?

Madison is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 71 versus 140 in Memphis — 49% 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, Memphis or Madison?

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

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City comparison

Memphis, TN vs Madison, WI

Memphis, TN 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 $1,274 a month in Memphis and $1,694 in Madison, and median household income lands at $48,090 versus $74,895. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Memphis takes affordability, while Madison takes job market, safety, and weather. The widest gap is median income, where Madison leads by 56% — 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 Memphis can feel further apart than Memphis and Madison do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Memphis and Madison reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Memphis report Full Madison report

Memphis, TN

Rent: $1,274/mo
Median income: $48,090
Crime index: 140
Schools: A-
Weather: 84°F

Madison, WI

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

Rent

25% cheaper

Memphis rent is 25% cheaper than Madison

Memphis

Winner

$1,274/mo

Madison

$1,694/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,274 a month in Memphis versus $1,694 in Madison, so Memphis is 25% cheaper. That's roughly $420/month back in your pocket — $5,040/year. Over five years that's $25,200 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, Memphis is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

56% higher

Madison's median income is 56% higher than Memphis

Memphis

$48,090

Madison

Winner

$74,895

What this means for your life

Median household income is $74,895 in Madison versus $48,090 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 56% higher in Madison — about $26,805 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. Memphis can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.

Crime index

49% lower crime

Madison's crime index is 49% lower than Memphis

Memphis

140 (100 = avg)

Madison

Winner

71 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Madison's crime index is 71 versus 140 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 49% 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. Memphis can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

Memphis and Madison are about even on school scores.

Memphis

A- · 84/100

Madison

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Memphis, 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

38% more comfortable

Madison weather is 38% more comfortable than Memphis

Memphis

84°F typical

Madison

Winner

66°F typical

What this means for your life

Madison scores 38% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 84°F in Memphis and 66°F in Madison. Memphis reads as hot, long summers; Madison reads as mild, livable temperatures. 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. Memphis 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 Memphis

People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Memphis

Memphis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 25% cheaper here at about $1,274 a month. Choose Memphis if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Open the Memphis 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 56% 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.

Madison is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 49% lower than Memphis (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

Memphis vs Madison, called

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

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

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

Common questions

Memphis vs Madison FAQ

Is Memphis cheaper than Madison?: Yes. Typical rent in Memphis is $1,274 a month versus $1,694 in Madison — 25% cheaper. Median household income is $48,090 in Memphis compared with $74,895 in Madison, so Madison has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Memphis or Madison?: Madison is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 71 versus 140 in Memphis — 49% 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, Memphis or Madison?: School composites are close: A- in Memphis and A- in Madison. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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