Living in Madison, WI - That's It - Pros & Cons - Combadi - World Travel Site (2023)

What would you think if you lived in the capital of the state of Wisconsin? You're probably wondering why Madison is another city that has gotten a lot of attention.

Home to the famed University of Wisconsin, this metropolis of 270,000 that covers an area of ​​101.53 square miles is more than just a college town.

It has fantastic cultural events, a thriving entertainment scene, and a thriving economy. So it's no surprise that individuals and families choose to move to the Midwest.

But before you pack your bags and leave, consider the pros and cons of the city. You need to know these facts to determine if Madison is worth living and if it is compatible with your lifestyle.

Is Madison, Wisconsin a good place to live? Lively college town vibes.

The good side

Great Madison Schools

One of the healthiest parts of living in Madison is that schools are always available for you and your school-age children. Options are available here, from elementary school to college.

Shorewood Hills Elementary Schoolit is the first in the city and 12th in the state for the Madison Metropolitan School District. Van Hise Elementary is also ranked 13th in the state.

Area high schools are also doing well.WestgymnasiumPosition 944 nationwide.

Meanwhile, Madison's reputation for excellent colleges and universities gives it an advantage. You can subscribe toUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison, ranked 42 in the country.

Edgewood-Colegioranks 239th in the national league, whileHerzing Universityit ranks 119th in the Midwest regional ranking.

Regardless of where you live in the city, you can get a quality education here.

The city is part of "America's Dairy Country"

Wisconsin earned the nickname "DairyLand" due to its abundant production of cheese, milk, and butter. Cheese lovers who choose to live in one of its cities, especially Madison, get a good supply of these delicacies.

With the excellent production of the city, you can certainly enjoy delicious and unforgettable meals with cheeses or even dairy that you don't expect. Fortunately, the city has 946 restaurants, each with their own version of a cheesy menu.

of the imaginationin Madison sells chocolate cheese, also known as "Cocoa Cardona." Get a delicious mac and cheese pizza at Ian's Pizza on State. Try the popular cheese fondue of the locals atmelting pot, the enlombardinos, you can order the famous Spaghetti Bolognese.

Greater access to nature.

Living in Madison allows you to explore the beautiful wooded areas. The city has a large amount of greenery to keep you busy in your spare time.

OOlbrich Botanical Garden, located at 3330 Atwood Avenue andAllen Centennial Gardensboth are worth a visit.

if you go toStaatspark blue mounds, you'll also find great hiking trails and beautiful scenery. After the park, you can continue exploring nature by visiting thePendarvis State Historic Site.

Also, if you want to enjoy the wildlife of the city, theHenry Vilas-Zooin Madison will show why this community-supported zoo is so famous.

Here you can enjoy great nature walks when you want to spend your weekends outdoors.

Madison's beautiful cultural landscape

Madison enriches its cultural heritage through the preservation of historic sites and the cultivation of its museums and galleries.

Seeing the Wisconsin State Capitol is one of the best things to do here. The good thing about this place is that the architect has not lined it with huge skyscrapers so that people can enjoy the office area.

Another great find in Madison is theMadison Museum of Contemporary Art, which has an exhibition space and a beautiful sculpture garden on the roof. meanwhile theChazen Art MuseumIt houses around 20,000 works and is one more place to enjoy.

next toOpening Center of the Artsin the heart of State Street is the place to be if you want to see live performances, shows and other musical events.

There are beaches everywhere.

Beach fun with enticing waters can be found anywhere in Madison. It is known as "The City of Four Lakes" for its proximity to Mendota, Monona, Waubesa, and Kegonsa lakes.

The city has about twelve beaches, and here you can enjoy more water activities, especially in summer.

Strand de BrittinghamOffering canoe and kayak rentals, concessions, picnic tables, and a playground, it's one of the best places to visit. Another popular local hangout isOlbrich beach, which offers a boat ramp, kayak and canoe rentals.

Playa Tenneyit offers everything you need to enjoy the sun while playing beach volleyball. With its proximity, "boring" is not a word to describe the variety of activities available, rain or shine.

the bad side

cold frost in winter

The brutal winter is one of those things you won't like about living in Madison. On rare occasions, the temperature in this area drops below zero. The temperature here can reach a maximum of -30 degrees Celsius.

This dwindling number makes it difficult to enjoy the outdoors at this time of year. It has an annual five-month snowfall of fifty-three inches, or about four feet.

In accordance withLatest results website, the area experiences occasional snowstorms and blizzards that can dump nearly ten inches of snow in a single day. These may be rare cases, but at the very least, you should prepare yourself for this unfortunate occurrence.

So living in Madison is not a good idea if you despise the long cold season and are shoveling a bunch of snow off your front porch.

lack of diversity

Madison's demographics aren't particularly diverse, which is a downside, especially if you're from another country looking for a new home.

The majority of the population is white, around 86%, with the rest being black and Asian. A handful of people would not consider Wisconsin an ethnically diverse state unless they saw evidence of European ancestry.

Technically, this situation means that if you are Asian or Black, you might be intimidated about living here because you expect white people to discriminate against you. However, this may not be a crucial situation here, since most of the residents are friendly.

What is the cost of living in Madison, Wisconsin? A cheap town in Badger State

The good side

The cheapest cost of living in the metro

You may think that living in Madison is expensive, but the opposite is true. Everything in the city is cheap.

So a rent-free family of four would probably cost $3,361.aturdir. Food is also cheaper here; For example, a liter of milk costs $0.83, while a loaf of bread costs $3.43. You can find better deals and deals at Woodman's Food Market or Aldi's.

On the other hand, you'll pay around $117.96 for major utilities here, including electric, heating, cooling, and trash pickup.

With a reasonable cost of living that won't break the bank, living here can offer you a good work-life balance.

The best shipping costs

Madison has some of the best public transportation in the country, so their transportation company charges reasonable fares.

U-Bahn-Transitis the official service provider of the city's bus companies. The standard fare is $2 for an adult, youth is about $1.25. Regular riders can purchase a monthly pass for $65 per month.

Receive free bus rides when you travel on routes 80-84 on the University of Wisconsin campus. If you need to transfer to another bus during your trip, you can ask the driver for a free transfer card.

Regarding the railway service, the city also has aamtrak train station. At the same time, 6 miles from the city center, see theDane County Regional Flughafen.

Accommodation is reasonably priced.

Madison seems to be an expensive neighborhood as the median home value is higher than the national average. However, there are communities in this area that continue to offer affordable housing with the same nice amenities.

University of Mountain Farmsis a neighborhood with a median home price of $274,000 and a monthly rental rate of $708.I couldThe neighborhood has a median price of $334,433, with a rental rate of $1,434.

On the other hand, thevillasThe neighborhood, three minutes from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, has a median home value of just $289,450 with a monthly rental rate of $1,466.

These prices are reasonable, especially the rental rates for out of town students studying here.

the bad side

High taxes on the race

With a tax burden of around 13%, Wisconsin is one of the states that imposes a high tax burden on its citizens. This percentage is the highest in the Midwest and ranks fifth among other states. So since Madison is in the zone, he shares the same setback.

OKmejoreslugares.net, the property tax rate in Madison is approximately $21.47 per $1,000 of home value. If you own a $350,000 property, you should expect to pay around $7,514.50 in property taxes.

So factor these tax burdens into your monthly budget or living expenses before you go.

Why work in Madison, Wisconsin? Diverse labor market in the region

The good side

Multiple business drivers

Working in Madison allows you to find a decent job that matches your career goals. Manufacturing, services and government are the main economic engines of the city.

Meat packing, agricultural production, and dairy equipment are long-established industries in the city, which is why it is one of the metropolitan cities named after "America's DairyLand."

familia americana next to,CUNA Mutual Insurance Group, and General Casualty, the city is home to 30 insurance companies.

With approximately 36,000 employees, the education sector employs a significant portion of the population, primarily the University of Wisconsin. In addition, there are more important functions that are unique to federal, state, and local governments.

Working here can give you a wider range of industries where you can find a good paying job.

favorable job market

Madison's job growth has been positive in recent years. It grew by around 1% last year and is expected to increase by 37.91% in the future.

These growing numbers show how the city is adjusting its employment sector and making sure they find respectable jobs. Based onDepartment of Labor Statistics DepartmentReport, this lowers the city's unemployment rate to 2.1% in April 2022.

These job opportunities are expanding thanks to big companies like American Family Insurance, CUNA Mutual Group andWPS insurance. While that,crustacean records,E-Century Publishing Corporation, and TDS Telecom are among the companies offering jobs in the media industry.

You get a better salary here.

Another advantage of working in a specific location is an excellent minimum wage, which I'm sure all employees aspire to. If so, Madison can provide that benefit.

The average minimum per capita income in this area is US$34,740, while the average minimum household income is around US$59,387. All of these numbers are above the national average.

According to statistics from bestplaces.net, the city's financial and insurance sector earns an average of $50,988. So, excellent work oncredit union SUoIndependent Fairway Mortgagecan offer you this reasonable salary.

So if you want to make more money than you currently do, you need to educate yourself or find the highest paying industry in your area.

the bad side

income tax is expensive

The biggest disadvantage a worker in Madison can face is not being exempt from paying a heavy tax on their income.

Wisconsin individual income tax rates range from 4% to 7.65% depending on filing status and income. So if you're making a big salary here, you should also expect to pay a hefty chunk of your federal obligations.

As a result, you should be prepared not to receive your full salary during your salary release date.

This concludes our comprehensive notes on the best and worst that Madison, Wisconsin has to offer its residents and possible changes.

We hope you found what you were looking for and thank you for taking the time to read our article.

Madison is a beautiful city with excellent facilities and services to offer its residents. There is no doubt that population growth will continue over time. And we assume that you will be a part of it.

Thank you and please stay healthy!