About Madison, WI

The city of Madison, Wisconsin is known for two main things: it is the location of the Wisconsin state capital and it is home to the massive University of Wisconsin. It is also known as being at or near the top of every quality of living study done in the United States. Why are Madison residents so happy to call this spot home, even with the brutal Wisconsin winters? It starts and ends with the kindness of the people here and their willingness to lend a helping hand to those that need it. Founded in 1836, the city of Madison almost instantly became the state capital and construction on capital buildings began within a year. In 1849, the university showed up and the city hasn’t stopped growing since. Today, the population sits at a quarter of a million happy residents.

While there is plenty to see and do in this pretty town, the biggest attraction here is the university. The University of Wisconsin regularly fields top ranked football and basketball teams that take on such arch rivals as Ohio State and Michigan. You’ll know it is a game day when you see the entire town decked out in red and white clothing. But the fun in Madison doesn’t stop when the games do. Much like the rest of Wisconsin, the great outdoors are ready to be explored at any time. Wisconsin is a haven for fishing, camping, hunting, biking and walking. Madison also has its fair share of museums, art galleries and other cultural hot spots thanks in large part to the diverse and liberal college community here.

While the university and the government in Madison do attract thousands of people here every year, the single biggest attraction in Madison is the welcoming nature of the city. Every year, major magazines rank how liberal and how open particular towns are. People aren’t surprised to see San Francisco or Miami on these lists, but Madison ranks near the top in all of them. Along with Dallas, Madison is said to be the most gay and lesbian friendly place to call home in the entire Midwest. This friendly and extremely liberal attitude is what has helped to make Madison the city it is today. For those folks that don’t want to abandon genuine Midwestern hospitality but also want a GLBT friendly place to live, Madison is the perfect choice.

If you’re in the market for a Madison apartment, you can expect to pay approximately $450-$550 for a studio sized unit. If you need a bit more space and you’re looking for a one bedroom Madison apartment, the rent will rise to $600-$750. A two bedroom Madison apartment will generally run you $750-$900, while a three bedroom Madison apartment will easily be over $1000 a month. The cost of living here is kept low because of the massive university population; a big plus when searching for that perfect Madison apartment for you.