Is Portland cheaper than Madison?

No. Madison is cheaper: typical rent is $1,694 a month versus $1,922 in Portland — 12% lower. Median household income is $85,876 in Portland compared with $74,895 in Madison, so Portland has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Portland or Madison?

Madison is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 71 versus 111 in Portland — 36% 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, Portland or Madison?

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

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City comparison

Portland, OR vs Madison, WI

Portland, OR 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 $1,922 a month in Portland and $1,694 in Madison, and median household income lands at $85,876 versus $74,895. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Portland takes job market and weather, while Madison takes affordability and safety. The widest gap is crime index, where Madison leads by 36% — 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 Portland can feel further apart than Portland and Madison do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Portland and Madison reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Portland report Full Madison report

Portland, OR

Rent: $1,922/mo
Median income: $85,876
Crime index: 111
Schools: A-
Weather: 69°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 Portland

Portland

$1,922/mo

Madison

Winner

$1,694/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,694 a month in Madison versus $1,922 in Portland, 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 $2,736 — 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 Portland.

Median income

15% higher

Portland's median income is 15% higher than Madison

Portland

Winner

$85,876

Madison

$74,895

What this means for your life

Median household income is $85,876 in Portland versus $74,895 in Madison, so typical pay runs 15% higher in Portland — about $10,981 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, Portland 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

36% lower crime

Madison's crime index is 36% lower than Portland

Portland

111 (100 = avg)

Madison

Winner

71 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Madison's crime index is 71 versus 111 in Portland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 36% 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. Portland can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

Portland and Madison are about even on school scores.

Portland

A- · 84/100

Madison

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Portland, 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

9% more comfortable

Portland weather is 9% more comfortable than Madison

Portland

Winner

69°F typical

Madison

66°F typical

What this means for your life

Portland scores 9% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 69°F in Portland and 66°F in Madison. Portland reads as mild, livable temperatures; 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, Portland is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Fit check

Who should choose Portland

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 15% higher ($85,876), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 69°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Open the Portland report →

Fit check

Who should choose Madison

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

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.

Madison is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 36% lower than Portland (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

Portland vs Madison, called

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

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

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

Common questions

Portland vs Madison FAQ

Is Portland cheaper than Madison?: No. Madison is cheaper: typical rent is $1,694 a month versus $1,922 in Portland — 12% lower. Median household income is $85,876 in Portland compared with $74,895 in Madison, so Portland has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Portland or Madison?: Madison is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 71 versus 111 in Portland — 36% 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, Portland or Madison?: School composites are close: A- in Portland and A- in Madison. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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