Madison, WI Homes For Rent

Homes for Rent in Madison, WI: What You Need to Know

People call it Mad City, Madtown, and Four Lakes City. Madison by any other name will always be cool. The city with many nicknames is the capital of Wisconsin. Its population of 259,680 is the second largest in the state, behind Milwaukee.

Schools and Education

The flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin system is located in Madison. It has 43,463 students. In all, there are seven universities and colleges in Madison and 12 other universities within 50 miles of the city. They include the University of Wisconsin Colleges (11,486 students), Madison Area Technical College (15,250), and Edgewood College (2,190). When it comes to primary and secondary schools, there are 64 public schools in Madison serving 29,216 students. Top-ranked schools include Van Hise Elementary School and Shorewood Hills Elementary School.

The Cost of Living in Madison

Madison’s cost of living rate is 0.1% higher than the national average. Food and transportation are affordable, with costs that are 21.2% and 33.3% lower than the national average, respectively. Madison’s median gross rent is $1,068 while median two-bedroom apartment rent is $1,133. Wisconsin levies a progressive income tax rate ranging from 3.86% to 7.65%. Its sales tax rate ranges from 5% to 5.6%.

Know Your Neighborhoods

Madison proper offers a variety of housing choices. The majority of the city’s residents are renters. Monroe, near downtown, is a popular choice among University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison) students and employees. In the suburbs, Middleton and Waunakee are good choices for their proximity, and they both have great schools. Waunakee is expected to attract newcomers with the development of more housing units. Residents love Middleton’s wonderful parks and walking paths. It has a significant number of renters.

The Local Sports Scene

The University of Wisconsin’s Badgers keep the entire city cheering throughout the year with 23 men's and women's teams competing in the NCAA. The Badgers have won 25 NCAA national championships combined since the 1940s. Madison fans also root for the Capitols (amateur hockey) and Forward Madison FC (professional soccer).

Weather and Climate

Madison receives an average of 42 inches of snow annually, more than the U.S. average of 28 inches. In the winter of 2007-2008, the city got a record 101.4 inches of snow. On average, the city enjoys 187 sunny days a year versus the national average of 205 sunny days. June and July are the best time to be in Madison with temperatures in the 80s.