Is Plano cheaper than Madison?

No. Madison is cheaper: typical rent is $1,694 a month versus $1,931 in Plano — 12% lower. Median household income is $105,679 in Plano compared with $74,895 in Madison, so Plano has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Plano or Madison?

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

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

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City comparison

Plano, TX vs Madison, WI

Plano, TX 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 $1,931 a month in Plano and $1,694 in Madison, and median household income lands at $105,679 versus $74,895. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Plano takes job market, while Madison takes affordability, safety, and weather. The widest gap is typical weather, where Madison leads by 88% — 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 Plano can feel further apart than Plano and Madison do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Plano and Madison reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Plano report Full Madison report

Plano, TX

Rent: $1,931/mo
Median income: $105,679
Crime index: 109
Schools: A-
Weather: 91°F

Madison, WI

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

Rent

12% cheaper

Madison rent is 12% cheaper than Plano

Plano

$1,931/mo

Madison

Winner

$1,694/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,694 a month in Madison versus $1,931 in Plano, 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 Plano.

Median income

41% higher

Plano's median income is 41% higher than Madison

Plano

Winner

$105,679

Madison

$74,895

What this means for your life

Median household income is $105,679 in Plano versus $74,895 in Madison, so typical pay runs 41% higher in Plano — about $30,784 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, Plano 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

35% lower crime

Madison's crime index is 35% lower than Plano

Plano

109 (100 = avg)

Madison

Winner

71 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Madison's crime index is 71 versus 109 in Plano (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. Plano can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

Plano and Madison are about even on school scores.

Plano

A- · 84/100

Madison

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Plano, 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

88% more comfortable

Madison weather is 88% more comfortable than Plano

Plano

91°F typical

Madison

Winner

66°F typical

What this means for your life

Madison scores 88% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 91°F in Plano and 66°F in Madison. Plano 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. Plano 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 Plano

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Plano is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 41% higher here ($105,679). Start with Plano if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Open the Plano report →

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 Plano on this page's weather index by 88%. Plano 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 Plano (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

Plano vs Madison, called

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

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

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

Common questions

Plano vs Madison FAQ

Is Plano cheaper than Madison?: No. Madison is cheaper: typical rent is $1,694 a month versus $1,931 in Plano — 12% lower. Median household income is $105,679 in Plano compared with $74,895 in Madison, so Plano has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Plano or Madison?: Madison is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 71 versus 109 in Plano — 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, Plano or Madison?: School composites are close: A- in Plano and A- in Madison. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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