Madison, WI, known as 'The City of Four Lakes,' offers a unique blend of natural beauty and modern urban amenities. Located in southern Wisconsin, Madison is a large city that serves as the state capital and a major cultural and economic hub. Major nearby cities like Milwaukee and Chicago enhance its status as a central point in the region. Madison's blend of historic landmarks, cultural festivals, and urban amenities creates a distinctive living experience.
Madison is home to several iconic landmarks, including the Wisconsin State Capitol, the historic University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the scenic Olbrich Botanical Gardens. The city offers a variety of attractions, from the beautiful Henry Vilas Zoo to the bustling State Street, known for its shopping and dining. Madison's dining scene is diverse, offering everything from farm-to-table cuisine to international dishes.
Annual events such as the Great Taste of the Midwest and the Wisconsin Film Festival highlight the city's vibrant cultural scene and provide unique entertainment opportunities for residents and visitors. These events celebrate Madison's rich cultural heritage and community spirit. Prestigious institutions like the University of Wisconsin-Madison contribute to the city's academic and cultural vibrancy, fostering a thriving intellectual community.
The arts and culture scene in Madison is dynamic and diverse, with numerous theaters, music venues, and art galleries. The Overture Center for the Arts and the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art are just a few of the cultural landmarks that showcase the city's commitment to the arts. Living in Madison provides ample opportunities to engage with art, music, and history, making it an exciting place to call home.
Madison’s community is welcoming and diverse, creating a friendly environment for newcomers. The city is home to professional sports teams like the Madison Mallards (Northwoods League), providing plenty of excitement for sports fans. Major industries in Madison include healthcare, education, and technology, with significant employers such as Epic Systems and the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics driving economic growth. The city has extensive public transit options, including buses and bike-sharing programs, making commuting convenient for residents.
Commute
High scores in the commute category could indicate that this area offers short commute times to work and readily available public transportation options.
Employment
This area scores extremely well in the employment category. This is primarily due to the combination of low unemployment rates, higher median home income and income per capita.
Housing
The housing category in this area boasts higher than average scores, likely influenced by a positive home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.
Health & Safety
Earning a high health and safety score depends on factors such as good air quality and the availability of essential health facilities like hospitals, clinics, doctors, and fire stations.
Nothing Found
This area did not exhibit any cons, as none of the categories were rated low enough.
Madison is a highly populated city located in the state of Wisconsin. The city has a population of 266,829 residents. In Madison, there are 3,465 people per square mile, which is well above the national population density average. The majority of Madison residents report their race to be White; this is followed by Asian and Black. The median age of all Madison residents is 31, which is well below the national average. This is a good indication that this city could be ideal for a younger demographic. Single men and women might be happy to hear that in Madison, only 41% of the population is married. If you prefer shorter commutes, living in Madison will be a delight. With an average one-way commute time of just 20 minutes, traveling to and from work is notably more convenient than the national average, which stands at 26 minutes.
Living in Madison can be a fulfilling experience for anyone moving to the city. Having said that, in the state of Wisconsin, there are many incredible places to live, so choose wisely! When searching for a new neighborhood, several factors play a vital role in determining its suitability. Safety should be a top priority, ensuring a secure environment with low crime rates. Proximity to your workplace or school helps minimize commuting time and allows for a better work-life balance. Availability of essential amenities such as parks, coffee shops, restaurants, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities contributes to convenience and well-being. Access to reliable public transportation options facilitates easy commuting and connectivity. Additionally, considering the sense of community and the overall atmosphere that resonates with your lifestyle and preferences fosters a harmonious living experience. Finding the best places to live in Madison and nearby areas is a much easier task when you can rely on information and data from the livability score, which includes amenities, cost of living, health & safety, education, employment and other important metrics.
Madison, WI receives 82/100 for its livability score; this results in a ranking of #39 in Wisconsin and #907 in the USA. Based on this score, Madison would be considered a very livable city! The cherry on top is that Madison also ranks in the top 10 percent of all cities. For each of the livability categories, we see that Madison ranks very well for employment (A+) and housing (A+).
Unemployment rates can range pretty dramatically from one city to another. Knowing that Madison has an unemployment rate of 2.1% could mean increased job opportunities with a higher demand for workers. It could also lead to higher wages, as the demand for workers exceeds the availability of jobs. Most importantly, it could be a sign of a healthy and thriving local economy.
Real estate represents the most substantial investment for homebuyers, constituting their most valuable asset. Renters, on the other hand, typically see their monthly rent as their most significant expense. The Madison market earns a high score in the housing category, surpassing the national average in factors like home and rental affordability and appreciation rates. This robust real estate market not only benefits individual homeowners and renters but also spurs vigorous local economic activity and job growth, solidifying its significance in driving the region's prosperity and financial well-being.
There are many factors that go into deciding if an area is the right fit for your lifestyle. Certain “must haves” like low crime, great schools and nearby amenities are all at the top of most people's lists. But before even considering if those options are attainable, we'll need to know if the real estate in Madison is actually affordable. Median real estate prices in Madison come in at $475,939, which is 58% higher than the Wisconsin average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Madison, the home price to income ratio is 4.8, which is 29.7% higher than the Wisconsin average.
Why stop at city-to-city? With Local Insights, you can compare neighborhoods, zip codes, or even exact addresses. Access 300+ hyperlocal data points—from schools and crime to housing and amenities—to see which area is the better fit.
| Statistic | Madison | Wisconsin | National |
| Average one way commute | 20min | 22min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 62.5% | 80.7% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 6.9% | 8.3% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 8.2% | 1.9% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 4.0% | 0.8% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 9.0% | 3.3% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 8.1% | 4.2% | 4.6% |
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