Which city is safer, San Francisco or Madison?

Madison is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 71 versus 122 in San Francisco — 42% 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, San Francisco or Madison?

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

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City comparison

San Francisco, CA vs Madison, WI

San Francisco, CA 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 $3,604 a month in San Francisco and $1,694 in Madison, and median household income lands at $136,689 versus $74,895. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

San Francisco takes job market, while Madison takes affordability, safety, and weather. The widest gap is median income, where San Francisco leads by 83% — 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 San Francisco can feel further apart than San Francisco and Madison do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the San Francisco and Madison reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full San Francisco report Full Madison report

San Francisco, CA

Rent: $3,604/mo
Median income: $136,689
Crime index: 122
Schools: A-
Weather: 65°F

Madison, WI

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

Rent

53% cheaper

Madison rent is 53% cheaper than San Francisco

San Francisco

$3,604/mo

Madison

Winner

$1,694/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,694 a month in Madison versus $3,604 in San Francisco, so Madison is 53% cheaper. That's roughly $1,910/month back in your pocket — $22,920/year. Over five years that's $114,600 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 San Francisco, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Madison is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

83% higher

San Francisco's median income is 83% higher than Madison

San Francisco

Winner

$136,689

Madison

$74,895

What this means for your life

Median household income is $136,689 in San Francisco versus $74,895 in Madison, so typical pay runs 83% higher in San Francisco — about $61,794 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, San Francisco 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

42% lower crime

Madison's crime index is 42% lower than San Francisco

San Francisco

122 (100 = avg)

Madison

Winner

71 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Madison's crime index is 71 versus 122 in San Francisco (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 42% 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. San Francisco can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

San Francisco and Madison are about even on school scores.

San Francisco

A- · 84/100

Madison

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in San Francisco, 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

2% more comfortable

Madison weather is 2% more comfortable than San Francisco

San Francisco

65°F typical

Madison

Winner

66°F typical

What this means for your life

Madison scores 2% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 65°F in San Francisco and 66°F in Madison. San Francisco 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 San Francisco'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 San Francisco

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

San Francisco is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 83% higher here ($136,689). Start with San Francisco if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Open the San Francisco 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 53% 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 San Francisco on this page's weather index by 2%. San Francisco 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 42% lower than San Francisco (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

San Francisco vs Madison, called

If the job market is your priority, San Francisco is the clear choice.

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

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

Common questions

San Francisco vs Madison FAQ

Is San Francisco cheaper than Madison?: No. Madison is cheaper: typical rent is $1,694 a month versus $3,604 in San Francisco — 53% lower. Median household income is $136,689 in San Francisco compared with $74,895 in Madison, so San Francisco has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, San Francisco or Madison?: Madison is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 71 versus 122 in San Francisco — 42% 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, San Francisco or Madison?: School composites are close: A- in San Francisco and A- in Madison. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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