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Austin, TX vs Madison, WI Crime Comparison

Side-by-side crime rates, safety scores, and trends based on FBI data.

Full report: Austin crime rate · Madison crime rate

Moving from Austin, TX to Madison, WI?

An out-of-state move adds a new driver's license, plates, voter registration and state-specific deadlines. The Moving Checklist Planner dates every task from your move-in day — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

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Is Austin, TX or Madison, WI Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Madison, WI is safer than Austin, TX (Safety Score 37/100 vs 11/100), with a total crime rate of 2,121 per 100,000 versus 3,709 for Austin, TX — 43% lower. Austin has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where Madison has a 62% lower rate.

Note: Austin is 3.5x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.

Quiz: which of these is MORE DANGEROUS than Austin, TX?

Austin — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Madison — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Austin, TX

Austin, TX
Safety Score 11/100
Coverage 984,613
Total Crime Rate 3,709.4
Category Wins 0/7

Madison, WI

Madison, WI
Safety Score 37/100
Coverage 282,045
Total Crime Rate 2,121.3
Category Wins 7/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Austin Madison Difference
Total Crime Rate 3,709.4 2,121.3 +1,588.1
Violent Crime Rate 467.5 256.3 +211.2
Murder Rate 6.6 2.5 +4.1
Rape Rate 67.6 26.6 +41.1
Robbery Rate 85.4 33.7 +51.7
Aggravated Assault Rate 307.2 193.2 +114.0
Property Crime Rate 3,241.9 1,865.0 +1,376.9
Burglary Rate 445.2 158.5 +286.7
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,198.1 1,595.5 +602.6
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 598.6 111.0 +487.6

All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.

Moving from Austin, TX to Madison, WI?

An out-of-state move adds new driver's license, plates, voter registration and deadlines that differ by state. The Moving Checklist Planner dates every task from your move-in day — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

Get the planner →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Austin or Madison safer?

Madison, WI is safer with a total crime rate of 2,121 per 100K vs 3,709 for Austin, TX — a 43% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Austin has a violent crime rate of 467.5 per 100K while Madison has 256.3. Madison has lower violent crime.

About Austin, TX

Austin, the "Live Music Capital of the World," is a rapidly growing city in Central Texas. Situated on the Colorado River, it's the state capital and home to a diverse population, including many young professionals drawn to its tech industry. With a safety score of 11/100 and a population coverage of 984,613, Austin has a total crime rate of 3,709.4 per 100,000 residents.

About Madison, WI

Madison, the capital of Wisconsin, sits on an isthmus between two lakes, Mendota and Monona. Home to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, it's known for its progressive politics and vibrant student culture. With a safety score of 37/100 and a population coverage of 282,045, Madison has a total crime rate of 2,121.3 per 100,000 residents.

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