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Madison, WI


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Madison, Wisconsin

Introduction to Madison

Madison, Wisconsin, with its population of 208,000, is the second largest city in Wisconsin. The University of Wisconsin calls Madison home, and the city is 77 miles away from Milwaukee. Outdoor activities, distinctive cultural amenities, and fine restaurants and shopping make Madison an enjoyable place to visit or live. The city is surrounded by five lakes and boasts over 200 parks for an incredible array of cross-country skiing, biking, swimming, sailing, ice fishing, hiking, and snow sailing. It’s a city that combines aspects of urban vibrancy with small-town friendliness.

Madison Culture

The city of Madison offers its residents a wide array of cultural activities not typically found in a city of its size. High-class entertainment can be found virtually any night of the week at the University of Wisconsin performance venues. The Madison Repertory Theater, the Madison Opera, and the Madison Symphony all offer performance year-round. Small town charm meets urban activity in an area known for its natural beauty. The city has an active music scene, including rock bands, opera, and folk singing. There are plenty of museums to choose from, including the University of Wisconsin’s Chazen Museum of Art, the Wisconsin Historical Museum, the Wisconsin Veteran’s Museum, and the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art. The performing arts are alive and well in the city, with performances by the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra and the Madison Ballet.

Madison Sports and Leisure

Residents and visitors of the Madison area can always find something to do that involves sports. The area boasts a range of golf courses open to the public, including championship courses and par-3 alike. Tennis courts are popular throughout the city, usually available on a first come, first served basis. Spectator sports opportunities include the University of Wisconsin’s athletics, minor league baseball with the Madison Mallards, and many other events.

Madison Outdoors

Madison has five lakes and hundreds of miles of trails that can satisfy any outdoor enthusiast. This has resulted in the city repeatedly being ranked one of the best small cities in the United States. There’s Lake Monona and the UW Arboretum, two spots perfect for biking and hiking. The Madison Parks Division maintains over 240 parks, 10 beaches, 4 off-leash dog areas, and 14 conservation parks. During the winter months, there is plenty of outdoor sports to be enjoyed, including skiing, skating, and sledding at the many lakes and parks. Madison is also considered the bike capital of the Midwest because it has more bikes than cars and over 100 miles of bike trails.

Madison at Night

When nighttime rolls around in Madison, the entertainment and social scenes kick into high gear. There’s always something going on, from comedy to dancing to billiards to pub crawling. Madison is a vibrant college town, and there are many activities to keep people, both young and old, satisfied and entertained. The university has had a reputation for decades as a party school, earning it the nickname Mad Town. The Mifflin Street Block Party and the State Street Halloween Party are commonly attended by tens of thousands of partiers, including many who come from other states to take part in the festivities.

High Points

Madison strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in Wisconsin):

CategoryTrophy
Public Transportation Use
(vs. State)
Top 1%trophyMadison Public Transportation Use
Walking and Biking to Work
(vs. Peers)
Top 1%trophyMadison Walking and Biking to Work
Racial Diversity
(vs. State)
Top 3%trophyMadison Racial Diversity
College Educated Adults
(vs. Peers)
Top 5%trophyMadison College Educated Adults
Short Commute Times
(vs. Peers)
Top 8%Madison Short Commute Times
Well-Paid Single Women
(vs. Peers)
Top 9%Madison Well-Paid Single Women
Median Family Income
(vs. Peers)
Top 14%Madison Median Family Income
Well-Paid Single Men
(vs. Peers)
Top 16%Madison Well-Paid Single Men
Low Violent Crime
(vs. Peers)
Top 17%Madison Low Violent Crime
Low Property Crime
(vs. Peers)
Top 18%Madison Low Property Crime

Comparative Profile of Madison, WI

Comparing Madison to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in Wisconsin (State):

Ratings range from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).


The People

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Well-Paid Single Women1010
Well-Paid Single Men99
Male Share of the Population77
Female Share of the Population44
Senior Citizens32
Age of the Population21
Racial Diversity110
Children Under 5 Years Old12

Families

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Portion of People Married31
Average Household Size11

Wealth

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
College Educated Adults1010
Median Family Income99
People in Middle Class or Better83
People Above Poverty61

Commute & Sprawl

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Walking and Biking to Work1010
Short Commute Times108
Public Transportation Use810
Working at Home86

Housing

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
People Living Alone99
Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals810
Seasonal and Vacation Housing55
Housing Recently Built57
Affordability of Rents42
Affordability of Property Taxes11

Crime

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Low Violent Crime91
Low Property Crime93
Detailed pages on related topics: Colleges in Madison, Graduate Schools in Madison, Madison mortgage and property, Madison travel

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