Madison, WI Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Madison, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Madison →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
Roughly 268,516 people call Madison, Wisconsin home. Household income runs $74,895 at the median, roughly in line with what we see across the broader set of cities (+4%).
Housing costs are a defining factor for anyone relocating to Madison. The median home value sits at $326,600 (roughly in line with the multi-city median at +0%), while renters pay a median of $1,291 per month. Buyers should weigh current mortgage rates and local property taxes against these figures before committing.
Madison's home-price-to-income ratio of about 4.4× is fairly typical — housing costs track reasonably in line with local pay. Home values near Madison rose 4.12% in the past year, a pace most would call steady rather than hot. Madison carries a Relatively Moderate hazard rating from FEMA, on the lower end of what we track.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $1,291/mo in Madison would take 20.7% of your income.
$581/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($326,600) would take 27.9% of your income toward principal & interest.
$4/mo under the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Madison
Median home value is $326,600 and median gross rent is $1,291/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Dane rose 4.12% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $1,694/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Madison's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively Moderate. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Madison reported a violent crime rate of 213.9 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Madison
Planning a move to Madison? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Madison, WI?
- For a quick read on Madison: homes carry a median value of $326,600, rent runs a median $1,291 monthly, and household income is a median $74,895, all from the US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022).
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Madison?
- Comfortably affording rent in Madison — where the median runs $1,291/month — typically means earning about $51,640 a year, per the standard 30%-of-income benchmark. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Madison.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Madison?
- In Madison, comfortably renting the median unit ($1,291/month) takes about $51,640 in annual income, while buying the median home ($326,600) takes roughly $74,724 a year in principal and interest alone (assumes 20% down, a 30-year fixed loan, and current mortgage rates).
- Is Madison safe?
- Madison's violent crime rate, per FBI reporting for 2025, stands at 213.9 per 100,000 residents.
See the full salary breakdown for Madison →
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Madison's.