Is Tampa cheaper than Madison?

No. Madison is cheaper: typical rent is $1,694 a month versus $1,977 in Tampa — 14% lower. Median household income is $66,802 in Tampa compared with $74,895 in Madison, so Madison has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Tampa or Madison?

Tampa is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 69 versus 71 in Madison — 3% 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, Tampa or Madison?

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

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City comparison

Tampa, FL vs Madison, WI

Tampa, FL 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 $1,977 a month in Tampa and $1,694 in Madison, and median household income lands at $66,802 versus $74,895. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Tampa takes safety, while Madison takes affordability, job market, and weather. The widest gap is typical weather, where Madison leads by 43% — 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 Tampa can feel further apart than Tampa and Madison do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Tampa and Madison reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Tampa report Full Madison report

Tampa, FL

Rent: $1,977/mo
Median income: $66,802
Crime index: 69
Schools: A-
Weather: 85°F

Madison, WI

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

Rent

14% cheaper

Madison rent is 14% cheaper than Tampa

Tampa

$1,977/mo

Madison

Winner

$1,694/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,694 a month in Madison versus $1,977 in Tampa, so Madison is 14% 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 $3,396 — 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 Tampa.

Median income

12% higher

Madison's median income is 12% higher than Tampa

Tampa

$66,802

Madison

Winner

$74,895

What this means for your life

Median household income is $74,895 in Madison versus $66,802 in Tampa, so typical pay runs 12% higher in Madison — about $8,093 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. Tampa can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.

Crime index

3% lower crime

Tampa's crime index is 3% lower than Madison

Tampa

Winner

69 (100 = avg)

Madison

71 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Tampa's crime index is 69 versus 71 in Madison (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 3% lower in Tampa. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Tampa, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Madison. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.

School scores

Neck and neck

Tampa and Madison are about even on school scores.

Tampa

A- · 84/100

Madison

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Tampa, 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

43% more comfortable

Madison weather is 43% more comfortable than Tampa

Tampa

85°F typical

Madison

Winner

66°F typical

What this means for your life

Madison scores 43% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 85°F in Tampa and 66°F in Madison. Tampa 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. Tampa 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 Tampa

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

Tampa is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 3% lower than Madison (69 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 Tampa report →

Fit check

Who should choose Madison

Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access

Madison is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 14% 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.

It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 12% 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.

Open the Madison report →

Bottom line

Tampa vs Madison, called

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

If safety matters more to you, Tampa pulls ahead.

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

Common questions

Tampa vs Madison FAQ

Is Tampa cheaper than Madison?: No. Madison is cheaper: typical rent is $1,694 a month versus $1,977 in Tampa — 14% lower. Median household income is $66,802 in Tampa compared with $74,895 in Madison, so Madison has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Tampa or Madison?: Tampa is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 69 versus 71 in Madison — 3% 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, Tampa or Madison?: School composites are close: A- in Tampa and A- in Madison. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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