Living in Madison

The UW-Madison campus is one of the most picturesque in the United States. Located in the heart of the state's capital city of 200,000 residents, it is situated along scenic Lake Mendota, Madison's largest lake. Because of its size and location, the University is an integral part of the cultural, intellectual, and economic life of the community. Itself a growing urban community, Madison is also conveniently situated 3 hours from Chicago, 75 minutes from Milwaukee, and 4.5 hours from Minneapolis while the rural areas of southern Wisconsin are also within easy reach.

Madison consistently ranks as a top community in which to live, work, and play:

Best Outside Towns 2006: Madison Rated Best Road Biking Town in America
Outside, August, 2006

Madison's Public Schools Rank #8 in Nation
Expansion Management Magazine, May, 2006

#3 City in America for Walking
Prevention, April, 2006

One of America's Best Vegetarian-Friendly Small Cities
www.goveg.com, March, 2006

One of the Ten Best Places for Outdoor Activities
Sperling's Best Places, Fall, 2005

Madison Ranked One of the 50 Fabulous Gay-Friendly Places to Live
50 Fabulous Gay-Friendly Places to Live, Gregory A. Kompes, Fall, 2005

One of the Top Ten Midsize Cities for Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneur Magazine, October, 2005

UW-Madison Tabbed Best Game-Day Atmosphere
Sports Illustrated on Campus, September, 2005

For information on the wide variety of dining, arts and entertainment options in the Madison area, go to visitMadison.com or thedailypage.com. For practical information, the City of Madison web site will help you get to know the area. The weather in Madison provides opportunities for year-round recreation: if you are interested in outdoor recreation in the University area, check out the Wisconsin Hoofers web site.