Living in Madison

Video: Mark Kaeppler, a student in the MD Program, explains what he likes most about Madison.

A cosmopolitan medium-sized city of more than 220,000, Madison is uniquely situated on an isthmus between the area's two largest lakes, Mendota and Monona - a setting that offers impressive beauty, a compact and vital metropolitan area and a wide range of recreational activities.

Home to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison also boasts more than 15,000 acres of sparkling lakes and beaches, as well as 260 parks. You'll find a cultural hub and plenty to do in Madison amid this scenic backdrop in the state capital of Wisconsin.

Madison consistently ranks as a top community in which to live, work, play and raise a family. Included among Madison's recent accolades:

• Madison was ranked among America's best 50 cities in 2011 by Businessweek
• Men's Health magazine rated Madison as America's best educated city in 2011
• Bicycling magazine has ranked Madison as one of America's top 50 bike-friendly cities

Uniquely situated in a dynamic city with so much to offer, we're proud to tell you about Madison and its surrounding communities. Use the following links as resources to find out more about Madison.

Living in Madison and Relocating

• City of Madison
• Madison Maps
• Neighborhoods
• Weather
• Madison Metropolitan School District
• Wisconsin School Districts
• Resources for Moving to Wisconsin
• Madison City-Accredited Child Care Programs
• Campus Area Housing Listing Service

Whether you're shopping on State Street, enjoying a free concert by the lake at the Memorial Union Terrace or taking a stroll along the picturesque Capitol Square on a summer Saturday morning at the Dane County Farmers' Market, there's plenty to do and see in Madison.

Things to Do and See

• Olbrich Botanical Gardens
• Henry Vilas Zoo
• University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum
• Downtown Madison
• Farmers' Markets in Madison

Restaurants, Theater and Entertainment

• Isthmus Dining Guide
• Overture Center for the Arts
• Monona Terrace Events
• Wisconsin Union Events Calendar

Sports and Recreation

• Madison Parks and Beaches
• City of Madison Parks Events Calendar
• University of Wisconsin Badgers Athletics
• Madison Mallards Baseball

For Students and Employees with Children

• Little Chicks Learning Academy
• Madison Metropolitan School District

Also check out the following resources from the Greater Madison Convention and Visitor Bureau:

• Madison Events Calendar
• Galleries and Museums
• Performing Arts
• Sports and Recreation
• Dining
• Capital Times and Wisconsin State Journal
• The Isthmus
• Madison Magazine