Madison

Living in Madison

Explore Madison

  Madison is a great place to live – there’s always something to do!

Overview of Madison

  Madison is nationally ranked for our quality of schools, housing affordability, standard of living, and more!

Outdoor Recreation

  Madison’s outdoor recreation opportunities are plentiful – from great biking trails to parks around every corner.

Entertainment

There’s always something happening in Madison – from nightlife to street festivals to concerts!

Moving to Madison

Get to Know Madison

Madison is a wonderful place to live! It has all the amenities of a big city but the ease of living of a small town.

Guide on things to do in each season »

Check out local events »

Check out the local art scene »

Top-Tier Schools

Madison has wonderful education options for your children. The Madison Metropolitan School District has a four-star rating from the Wisconsin State Department of Public Instruction, and the private Madison Country Day School has an A+ rating on Niche.

Map of Madison area public schools »

Map of Madison area private schools »

Overview of all schools in the Madison area »

Navigating the Real Estate Market

Buying a house in the Madison area is a worthwhile investment. You can find homes in all types of settings: a cute city neighborhood, in the sprawling countryside, and somewhere in between.

Guide to Madison neighborhoods & suburbs »

Find realtors through the Wisconsin Realtor Association »

Look at available homes on Zillow »

Madison Rankings

#1 Top 100 Best Places to Live in America
Livability, October 2021

#4 Fittest City in the U.S.
ACSM American Fitness Index, July 2020

Top 10 Best City for Recent College Grads
Livability.com, May 2018

#1 Best Places in the U.S. for Raising Children
diversitydatakids.com, January 2020

#1 Best Cities to Live In if You’re Young and Broke
MagnifyMoney.com, May 2018

#3 Best State Capitals to Live In
wallethub.com February 2020

#1 Cities Where Women Are Most Successful
smartasset.com, April 2019

#3 Top 100 Best Places to Live
Livability.com February 2019

#1 for Quality of Life and Industry Diversity
Business Facilities Magazine, July 2018

One of the Best Small Cities in America
National Geographic, January 2018

#9 Best U.S. Cities to Find a Job
thestreet.com, August 2018

#2 Best Cities for Farmers’ Markets
Better Homes & Gardens, June 2019

#8 Best Areas for STEM Professionals
WalletHub.com, January 2020

#3 Top U.S. Metros for Millennials
ApartmentList.com, September 2018

#1 Cities with the Best Work-Life Balance
smartasset.com January 2020

#8 America’s Best Small Cities
BestCities.org

#2 Best Cities to Start Your New Career
Zippia.com, August 2018

#15 Best Public Schools in the U.S.
US News, September 2018

#2 Best Beer Festival
USA Today 10 Best, March 2018