Madison, WI

Madison WI scores 75/100 on safety (above average). Crime is about 29% below the national average. Pick the neighborhood carefully. Some ZIPs are fine, others are not.

Detail: overall crime index 71 (100 = avg); violent crime index 78; property crime index 63. Indexes near 100 track a typical U.S. load. Higher means more crime pressure on that category.

Campus scores in the report: Madison Elementary (elementary) at 7/10; Madison Middle School (middle) at 7/10; Madison High School (high) at 8/10. On this 10-point scale, 7 is solidly middle; 9 is a standout.

District picture: about B+ (above average) · Top 35% statewide. Student-teacher staffing: 16:1. If schools drive your move, compare the specific campuses that serve your target address against statewide peers.

Typical rent in Madison is about $1,694/month (on the high side). At $1,694/month for a typical unit, you need about $60,984+ in household income to rent comfortably without stretching (3× rent × 12). Typical home value: $326,600.

Median household income is $74,895, property taxes run about 1.45%, and homes typically sell in around 28 days. Local median income ($74,895) clears the $60,984 comfort line for that rent.

Walk Score 68 (Somewhat Walkable); transit score 42 (Some Transit).

Average temperature is about 69°F (highs near 78°F, lows near 59°F).

You can be outside most of the year without extreme gear. Heating and cooling costs are usually moderate compared with hotter or colder metros. If you visit, go in winter or midsummer (not only in spring) to see the extremes.

Who tends to thrive in Madison: (1) Households that want quieter streets (safety sits at 75/100) (2) People relocating for a job who can pick a safer ZIP (citywide safety is 75/100) (3) Households earning $60,984+ who can clear the 3× rent rule at $1,694/month (4) Movers with a locked job offer in Madison who already priced rent, schools, and commute

Who should look elsewhere: (1) Anyone stretching past 40% of take-home on housing at $1,694/month (2) Households expecting top marks on rent, safety, and schools at once (Madison does not clear every bar) (3) People who will not research ZIP-level crime and school maps before leasing

Income sniff test: clear about $60,984 household income for $1,694/month rent. Under that, pick a cheaper ZIP or a different city.

Madison WI is not worth a speculative move. Come only for a specific job or family reason.

The strongest upside is safety at 75/100 (above what many metros post).

The biggest practical risk is still housing: confirm you can carry $1,694/month plus utilities before you sign.