Nestled between Lake Mendota and Lake Monona, Madison is not only the state capital of Wisconsin but is also a vibrant city known for its beautiful landscapes, friendly people, and thriving economy. From its renowned University of Wisconsin-Madison to its diverse culinary scene and fun outdoor activities, Madison provides a wonderful blend of urban amenities and natural beauty.
Living in Madison means immersing yourself in a city that prioritizes sustainability, education, and quality of life. However, it is important to do your research before deciding where to settle down in Madtown. There are plenty of Madison WI neighborhoods to choose from, and there really is something for everybody. These are just a few of the best neighborhoods in Madison WI for you to consider.
Wexford Village is located on the west side of the city and is one of the best Madison neighborhoods. This Madison neighborhood is situated in a convenient location, with easy access to both Madison and Middleton. When living in this neighborhood, you will be a part of the Wexford Village Homes Association. The neighborhood association hosts monthly meetings that you are welcome to attend to help make the community a better place to live.
Wexford Village contains 650 single family homes and 114 condominiums. The area is largely made up of residential housing, giving it a small town feel while still being close to the downtown area. Additionally, Wexford Village is one of the most affordable Madison Wisconsin neighborhoods. According to Redfin, the median home price in this affordable neighborhood is $377,000, which is less than the Madison average of $384,252 and the national average of $402,242. The affordable homes make it appealing to families moving to the area on a budget. Wexford Park sits in the center of the neighborhood, which contains walking trails, green spaces, and playgrounds.
Located near West Side Madison sits the University Hill Farms neighborhood. University Hill Farms is easily one of the best neighborhoods in Madison Wisconsin, and is very popular among young families looking to be close to the big city while still enjoying a small town feel. This Dane County neighborhood has a population of just over 3,600, and contains plenty of green spaces at places like Garner Park, Robin Park, and Rennebohm Park.
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University Hill Farms is also one of the best neighborhoods in Madison for schooling. The neighborhood is a part of the Madison Metropolitan School District, which serves over 26,000 students. Some of the schools in University Hill Farms include Van Hise Elementary School and Hamilton Middle School. Hamilton Middle School is ranked by US News as the best middle school in the Madison Metropolitan School District. If you prefer private schooling, a few nearby options include Our Lady Queen of Peace School and Wingra School.
Westmorland is situated on the west side of the city and is one of the best Madison WI neighborhoods. This vibrant community is full of historic homes and even contains the Herbert and Katherine Jacobs House, which was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1937. Westmorland is mostly residential, but there are a few local shops and restaurants in the area, including Luigi's Pizza, Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream Co., and Midvale Plaza Shopping Center.
This Madison neighborhood is a nature lover's paradise, with the beautiful Westmorland Park sitting in the center of the community. This 11.69-acre park features a rock garden, basketball court, ice skating, a pickleball court, a soccer field, and more. Additionally, the neighborhood is within walking distance of the UW Madison Arboretum, which contains 1,200 acres of habitats including prairies, forests, and wetlands.
Downtown Madison, also known as Capitol, is one of the best places to live in Madison. When living in the city center, you can enjoy plenty of attractions within walking distance of your home or apartment. This Madison neighborhood is home to Capitol Square, which contains the Wisconsin State Capitol, the Wisconsin Veterans Museum, and the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art. The city center is a very popular place to live among young professionals, as several of the city's top employers are located in this area.
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In addition to young professionals, Downtown Madison is home to several college students. The University of Wisconsin Madison Campus is located in the city center, so there are several students living in apartments nearby. When living in the area, you can enjoy a quiet walk around campus or check out a football game at Camp Randall Stadium.
Additionally, State Street, which runs through the center of this vibrant neighborhood, is full of trendy local restaurants and shops like Paul's Pel'meni and Parthenon Gyros. The area also hosts several local events throughout the year such as the Wisconsin Book Festival and the Wisconsin Book Festival.
Situated along Lake Wingra, Dudgeon-Monroe is easily one of the best places to live in Madison Wisconsin. This family-friendly Dane County neighborhood is popular among young professionals and small families, and consists of mostly single family homes. Dudgeon-Monroe offers a great mix of rural and urban living, with both quiet residential streets and a lively downtown area with a farmer's market and plenty of office space. Monroe Street, which runs through the center of the neighborhood, is lined with popular coffee shops and restaurants like Fairchild and The Laurel Tavern.
Dudgeon-Monroe is home to many young adults, as it contains the Edgewood College campus, which is a private college with over 40 different available majors. The Southwest Commuter Path also runs through the neighborhood of Dudgeon-Monroe, which is a 12-mile bike path that runs all around the city of Madison.
When searching for the best Madison neighborhoods, you can't skip out on Shorewood Hills. Shorewood Hills is bordered by University Avenue to the south and Lake Mendota, and several of the homes in the area come with stunning waterfront views. These views come with a price, making Shorewood Hills one of the most expensive neighborhoods in Madison. According to Redfin, the median sale price of homes in this Dane County neighborhood is $1.25 million, which is up 27.5% compared to last year.
If you want to experience city living among young professionals, then check out the area around University Avenue, which is lined with apartment complexes like The Boulevard Apartments and Shorewoods Apartments. If you prefer to own a large home with plenty of land, then head north to the area near Lake Mendota. Although Shorewood Hills is not the most affordable neighborhood, it is certainly one of the safest. Shorewood Hills has a crime rate that is 86% lower than the Wisconsin average and 90% lower than the national average.
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Located on Madison's east side, Marquette is one of the most sought-after Madison WI neighborhoods. This busy district is situated on the shores of Lake Monona and is very popular among young professionals due to the short commute to Downtown Madison WI. It is only 2.5 miles via East Washington Avenue or Williamson Street from Marquette to the downtown area. In the summertime, this Madison WI comes to life, with thousands of residents and tourists frequenting local events at places like BB Clarke Beach Park and Orton Park.
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The cozy community of Marquette consists mostly of single family homes with three to four bedrooms. This east side neighborhood is more expensive than the state and national average, with a median home price of $735,000. Marquette is quickly becoming one of the most desirable neighborhoods in Madison WI, and the typical home price is up 69% compared to last year, according to Redfin.
Located just east of Dudgeon-Monroe sits Vilas, one of the best neighborhoods in Madison WI. This Madison WI neighborhood is bordered to the north side by Monroe Street, where you will find several hip restaurants and coffee shops like One & Only and Bloom Bake Shop. You can also access the downtown area in just a few minutes, as Vilas is just 1.2 miles away from the center of the city.
Vilas is also one of the best Madison neighborhoods for nature lovers. The southern portion of the neighborhood borders Vilas Park, which contains the Henry Vilas Zoo. The Henry Vilas Zoo is one of the 10 remaining free zoos in North America and features hundreds of different animal species. Additionally, Vilas is located along Lake Wingra, where residents can enjoy activities like fishing, swimming, kayaking, and sunbathing during the warm summer months.
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Check out this map of the best Madison neighborhoods.
Now that you know all of the best neighborhoods in Madison WI, which one will you be calling home? There are several Madison WI neighborhoods to choose from, each with its own unique charm and amenities. After you have found the best place to live in Madison WI, give Dairyland Moving and Storage a call. Our experienced team of Madison movers has served over 15,000 customers in our 11+ years in the moving industry. Give us a call today at 608-856-6683 to get started with a free quote.
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