Madison

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Madison, WI

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Wisconsin’s capital city is a thriving lakefront college town

Lakefront Scenic College Town Lively Family-Friendly

As Wisconsin’s capital and second largest city, Madison is situated in the heart if America’s Dairyland. Aside from the city’s farming history, Madison is also known for its lakeside recreation and relaxation on Lake Mendota, Lake Monona, and Lake Waubesa. Interstates 90 and 94 make commuting as easy as possible in the area, even to major metropolises like Milwaukee, located roughly 80 miles east of town on Lake Michigan.

Home to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison draws in many residents for its college sports and top-notch educational opportunities. Between the Badgers basketball and hockey games at the Kohl Center to the Badgers football Games at Camp Randall Coliseum, there’s always a college game to cheer for. The university features all kinds of entertainment options, including the University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum, a major natural attraction in the city.

Olbrich Botanical Gardens is another natural attraction, and Henry Vilas Zoo and Madison Children’s Museum are popular locales for families in the area. Enjoy the artistic vibe in Madison through exploring the Chazen Museum of Art or catching a performance at the Overture Center for the Arts. The Dane County Farmers Market serves up the best local meat and product, and West Towne Mall and East Towne Mall offer endless shopping opportunities.

Explore the City

An aerial view of Madison

Beautiful downtown Madison

Camp Randall Stadium, home of the Wisconsin Badgers

The Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison

The University of Wisconsin-Madison

View of Madison from Lake Mendota

Rent Trends

As of March 2025, the average apartment rent in Madison, WI is $1,177 for a studio, $1,440 for one bedroom, $1,772 for two bedrooms, and $2,161 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Madison has increased by 2.3% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,440/month
712 Sq Ft
House
$2,912/month
1,526 Sq Ft
Condo
$1,887/month
801 Sq Ft
Townhome
$2,137/month
1,385 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Madison, WI

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Madison, WI is 5.2% higher than the national average. Generally, housing in Madison is 8.4% more expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $1,177 - $2,161. You can expect to pay 0.2% less for groceries, 3.3% more for utilities, and 7.5% less for transportation.

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Transportation

59

Somewhat Walkable

out of 100 WalkScore® Rating

You might be able to get out and walk when living in this area. Some errands can be accomplished on foot, but for others you’ll need a car.

35

Some Transit

out of 100 TransitScore® Rating

You'll likely want a car when living in this area since it has few transit options.

69

Very Bikeable

out of 100 BikeScore® Rating

This area is very bikeable. You’ll find a variety of bike paths and lanes.

Schools

Van Hise Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

431 Students

9
out of 10

Shorewood Hills Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

381 Students

9
out of 10

Randall Elementary

Public

Grades 3-5

311 Students

7
out of 10

Marquette Elementary

Public

Grades 3-5

149 Students

7
out of 10

Stephens Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

493 Students

6
out of 10

Hamilton Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

725 Students

6
out of 10

O'Keeffe Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

452 Students

6
out of 10

Spring Harbor Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

263 Students

5
out of 10

James Wright Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

256 Students

5
out of 10

Sennett Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

623 Students

4
out of 10

West High

Public

Grades 9-12

2,147 Students

7
out of 10

Memorial High

Public

Grades 9-12

2,025 Students

6
out of 10

East High

Public

Grades 9-12

1,649 Students

6
out of 10

LaFollette High

Public

Grades 9-12

1,482 Students

5
out of 10

Metro School

Public

Grades 4-12

19 Students

Rating Unavailable

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • Allen Centennial Gardens
  • Washburn Observatory
  • UW Zoological Museum
  • UW-Madison Geology Museum
  • Madison Children's Museum

Airports

  • Dane County Regional/Truax Field

Top Apartments in Madison

Houses for Rent in Madison

Property Management Companies in Madison, WI

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Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2025.