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Aerial view of Madison.

Life in Madison

Experience the modern Midwest. A wellspring of innovation with global influence.

Top-Rated City

Consistently ranked among the country’s best places to live

Explore endless opportunities in the beautiful capital city of Madison—its beauty and modern feel made all the better by the down-to-earth attitude here.

1
Best mid-sized city for Gen Z
—CommercialCafe, 2025
47
Among the top 100 places to live in the U.S.
—Livability.com, 2025
7
happiest city in America
—Fortune, 2025

Dynamic Big 10 Campus

  • Founded in 1841, at UW–Madison you’ll become one of more than 49,000 students representing 50 states and 134 countries—a diverse, energetic community.
  • Jump around with 80,000 Badger fans at Camp Randall Stadium and witness athletic feats from our 23 Big Ten varsity teams
  • Enjoy the beloved, lakefront Memorial Union Terrace, the heartbeat of the campus and a place to hear live music, watch an outdoor movie, relax with friends, grab a refreshment, or watch the sunset

Explore Madison

Image of Lake Mendota at sunset

Outdoor Activity

  • Discover the breathtaking beauty of four distinct seasons that each bring a wealth of opportunities and make Madison fun, inspiring, and memorable
  • Try sailing, paddling, water skiing, wakeboarding, windsurfing, bicycling and hiking, cross-country and downhill skiing, snowshoeing, sledding
  • Enjoy Big Ten football when it fills the historic Camp Randall Stadium or Badger basketball and hockey at the Kohl Center
  • Experience multiple lakes that lend the city a unique, photo-worthy beauty; UW–Madison sits at the edge of beautiful Lake Mendota, with front row seats to spectacular sunsets—at the shore or on the water
Food carts at State street

Food, You Ask?

  • Madison is a foodie paradise! You can find a little of everything at diverse restaurants and eateries, ethnic specialty food carts, gourmet restaurants, and endless food fests
  • Stroll the largest producer-only farmers’ market in the country situated in the bustling heart of downtown
  • Discover award-winning chefs, a burgeoning slow-food movement, and lots of healthy, hand-picked local ingredients
  • On the flip side: Noteworthy fish fries. Boast about the best cheese curds around and indulge with state fair cream puffs

Industry and Tech Buzz

Madison is home base for a number of global companies and successful tech start-ups, including American Family Insurance, Epic, Land’s End, Exact Science, and American Girl

Proximity

Chicago is 122 miles away; it is 234 miles to Minneapolis, and Milwaukee is just 73 miles to the east, so larger urban areas are easily accessible

Family Friendly

Enjoy a highly rated children’s museum, a free zoo, children’s theater companies, abundant parks, and much more. The greater Madison area is known for excellent school systems and family-welcoming neighborhoods

Madison—it’s awesome here.

Breathtaking views and big city amenities with a small-town feel. Experience a city with award-winning chefs, a vibrant art scene, and friendly neighbors. Madison consistently ranks as an outstanding location by many measures.

Explore life in Madison