Living in Madison, WI

Crime in Madison runs a bit below the national average. The violent crime index is 85 (100 is the U.S. baseline), with property crime at 85. That puts it in a decent spot — not the safest metro in the country, but meaningfully better than the midpoint. Neighborhood choice still matters, especially if you have kids or walk home late. FBI Uniform Crime Report data.

By most measures, yes. The median rent of $1,364/month against a median household income of $76,983/year works out to a 21.3% rent-to-income ratio. Financial planners generally want that number under 30%, so Madison clears the bar with room to spare. You'll have breathing space for savings, car payments, and the occasional splurge. Numbers from Census ACS 2023.

Most people in Madison are at work within 16 minutes — a pretty reasonable commute by American standards. The breakdown: 57.6% drive alone, 5.8% take public transit, and 18.2% work from home. Rush hour adds time, obviously, but the baseline is manageable.

Not particularly. The climate risk score is 21/100, which puts Madison in the low-risk tier. Winter Storm, Flood, and Tornado are the most relevant hazards, but none of them are frequent concerns. Standard insurance should have you covered. It's one less thing to worry about if you're comparing this city to higher-risk metros along the coast or in tornado alley. Data from FEMA disaster declarations and NOAA.

Strong, on paper. The high school graduation rate in Madison is 92.0%, and classrooms average a 14:1 student-to-teacher ratio. That puts the district above most national benchmarks. Individual schools still vary — a few are outstanding, others are just solid — so look up specific school ratings on your state's education department site before choosing where to live.

About what you'd expect anywhere. The average monthly utility bill in Madison runs around $236 for electricity, gas, water, and sewer combined. The national average is $230, so you're right in line. Your actual bill depends on home size, insulation quality, and how much you run the AC or heater — but no surprises here.

Good, overall. The median AQI sits at 36, which falls within the EPA's "Good" category, and Madison logs 290 clean-air days annually. PM2.5 is the main pollutant. Occasional spikes happen — wildfire smoke, temperature inversions, or high-ozone days — but they're the exception, not the rule. Check AirNow.gov during allergy season or summer heat waves.

Higher than average, yes. The total effective tax rate lands around 12.7% when you add up income, property, and sales taxes. Sales tax is 5.5%. High-tax areas often come with better public schools, infrastructure, and services — but that's not guaranteed, and it's cold comfort on payday. If you're moving from a low-tax state like Texas or Florida, brace for a noticeable dip in take-home pay.

Yes. Madison's water system scores 91/100 in our analysis — zero health-based violations on record, and the lead risk rating is "low." It meets or exceeds all EPA standards. You can fill a glass from the faucet without thinking twice. A basic pitcher filter can improve taste if you're particular, but it's not a safety concern.

Everything on this page is built from public government sources: rent and income figures from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023); commute and transportation data from Census ACS tables B08303 and B08006; crime rates from the FBI Uniform Crime Report; climate risk assessments using FEMA disaster declarations and NOAA storm records; air quality measurements from the EPA's Air Quality System database; water quality compliance data from EPA records and the EWG Tap Water Database; school data from the National Center for Education Statistics; utility cost estimates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. We refresh each dataset monthly through an automated pipeline and cross-check for anomalies. No surveys, no user-submitted guesses — just official federal data presented in a way that's actually useful for people researching a move.