Live Here

While the quality of life in the Greater Madison region is outstanding, the cost of living is close to the U.S. average. You'll enjoy the amenities, recreation and culture of a big city, without the big city price tags.

Why Greater Madison?

Madison and its surrounding communities boast a quality of life that reflects a more easygoing culture, shorter commutes, affordable amenities and ample opportunities for recreation. Add in an abundance of cultural attractions, stunning natural resources and recreational opportunities and it's hard to imagine why not Madison. 

The state's capital city has consistently ranked within the top 20 metro areas nationwide for its economic strength throughout the last 10 years, according to the economic research firm Policom, which reviewed 383 metro areas. The highest ranked areas have had rapid, consistent growth in both size and quality for an extended period of time. 

Lake Monona
Lake Monona

Culture and Recreation  

Madison boasts the culture of a much bigger city with the close-knit feel of a smaller community. On Saturdays, Madison’s capital square hosts the Dane County Farmers' Market, which is the largest producer-only farmers' market in the country. In the fall months, there are many feature festivities surrounding the UW Badgers football team. The Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center, designed by internationally renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright and his apprentice and Taliesin architect, Tony Puttnam, plays host to a variety of events. The rooftop restaurant is open to the public and offers stunning views of Lake Monona and Madison’s downtown cityscape. The Madison area is also home to numerous museums, galleries and theatres for arts enthusiasts and families to enjoy all year long. 
 
If you can’t find something entertaining, relaxing or tasty in Madison, you may need to check your pulse!

In Madison, you'll find: 

Madison BCycle
BCycle bike rental
More than 200 miles of biking and hiking trails are accessible to commuters, residents and visitors throughout Wisconsin’s capital city. B-cycle, the bike rental program, has 45 rental stations and more than 300 bikes (including electronic bikes) available.  

Five area lakes offer unlimited opportunity to enjoy water sports, boating, waterfront dining, lakeside events and the surrounding parks and beaches. 

State Street, Madison’s pedestrian mall, links the Wisconsin State Capitol Square to University of Wisconsin campus and is lined with more than 350 shops, galleries, restaurants, night spots, museums and cultural destinations. 

Outdoor dining on State Street
Outdoor dining on State Street
Madison has more restaurants per capita than anywhere else in the country. You’ll find cuisine from all over the world in fine dining establishments, brew pubs and everything in between. 

Many state parks and miles of trails provide opportunities for year-round recreation from running and biking in the summer to snowshoeing and skiing during the winter months. 

Madison is passionate about sports. But, Madison has a lot more to offer than just football. On campus, you can cheer on the Big Ten Conference UW Badgers competing in 23 varsity sports including basketball, hockey, volleyball and more. You can also root for the Madison Capitols hockey, a Tier 1 Junior League team, hang out at the Duck Pond to watch the Madison Mallards minor league baseball team or cheer on the Forward Madison FC, our new professional soccer team.