864 Properties

Local Guide

See what Madison, WI has to offer.

What Renters Like and Dislike

What Renters Like and Dislike About Madison

There are parks, restaurants and other businesses in walking distance of the neighborhood as well as a nearby library

Restaurants that are in my area and the grocery store. We have a few restaurants and a Whole Foods store as well as other fast food restaurants very close by.

We live in a fun neighborhood with things to do - local beer garden, botanical garden. We have several small bars and restaurants nearby that are good social spots. We live close to friends

Close to businesses like restaurants, stores like grocery and department stores. Easy access to major roads and highways. Close to airport.

Larger yards, easy access to bars and restaurants including being close to the lake and being able to bike to places

Close to downtown,, and capital. Some nice parks and area's around the lakes. Nice variety if restaurant and bars.

Who Lives Here

Madison Demographics

Education

High School

14%

Associate's

16%

Bachelor's

22%

Master's

11%

Doctorate

37%

Family Size

2 people

49%

3 people

23%

4 people

18%

5 people

7%

6+ people

3%

Household Income

0-50k

39%

50-100k

31%

100-150k

16%

150-200k

7%

200k+

7%

Age

0-10

10%

10-20

12%

20-45

47%

45-65

19%

65+

12%

Affordability

How expensive is it in Madison?

Percentage: 3/53/5

Renters gave this area a 3 out of 5 for affordability

Rent Trends

Studio1 Bed2 Beds3 Beds
-----
Nov '23$1289$1467$1762$2365
Oct '23$1289$1499$1742$2502
Sep '23$1289$1469$1747$2562
Aug '23$1289$1449$1717$2497
Jul '23$1284$1407$1660$2497
Jun '23$1284$1422$1682$2475
May '23$1274$1432$1682$2325
Apr '23$1274$1452$1715$2579
Mar '23$1274$1464$1720$2604
Feb '23$1274$1440$1687$2373
Jan '23$1269$1402$1625$2310
Dec '22$1269$1384$1625$2675

*The rent information included in this summary is based on a median calculation of multifamily rental property inventory on Apartment Guide and Rent.com over the past 12-months and is for illustrative purposes only. This information does not constitute a pricing guarantee or financial advice related to the rental market.

Getting Around Madison

Madison Transportation

Commute Time

0-15 Mins

34%

15-30 Mins

45%

30-40 Mins

13%

40-60 Mins

5%

60+ Mins

3%

Transportation Scores

Percentage: 6464

Walk Score®

Walkable

No

Say 35 of 54 renters

Has Sidewalks

Yes

Say 38 of 54 renters

Percentage: 7575

Bike Score®

Bike Friendly

Yes

Say 43 of 54 renters

Percentage: 4545

Transit Score®

They Are Located Near Public Transportation

No

Say 28 of 54 renters

Need A Car

No

Say 36 of 54 renters

Top Scores: Coffee, Nightlife, Retail

Things To Do In Madison

Top Score

Coffee

4.5/5 stars based on undefined reviews

We're full of beans for Madison's coffee shop scene.

  1. Few coffee shops per resident
  2. Significantly more coffee shops than average
  3. 12% more coffee shops than areas of a similar size

Nightlife

4.5/5 stars based on undefined reviews

Get your dance shoes on, Madison looks good for nightlife.

  1. Few bars and clubs per resident
  2. Significantly more bars and clubs than average
  3. Significantly more bars and clubs than areas of a similar size

Retail Shops

4.5/5 stars based on undefined reviews

A shopaholic favorite. Madison has a lot of style.

  1. Few shops per resident
  2. Significantly more shops than average
  3. A standard number of shops compared to areas of a similar size

Health and Fitness

4.5/5 stars based on undefined reviews

Pumped and lifting a solid 4.5 stars for fitness.

  1. Few gyms per resident
  2. Significantly more gyms than average
  3. 31% more gyms than areas of a similar size

Pet Services

4.5/5 stars based on undefined reviews

Madison is real pawsitive for your pets.

  1. Few pet facilities per resident
  2. Significantly more pet facilities than average
  3. 21% more pet facilities than areas of a similar size

Fine Arts

4.5/5 stars based on undefined reviews

This place gets the picture when it comes to art.

  1. Few fine art centers per resident
  2. Significantly more fine art centers than average
  3. 57% more fine art centers than areas of a similar size

Restaurants

4/5 stars based on undefined reviews

Cooking skills not required in Madison.

  1. Few restaurants per resident
  2. Significantly more restaurants than average
  3. A standard number of restaurants compared to areas of a similar size

Medical Care

4/5 stars based on undefined reviews

This place is no sight for sore eyes. Plenty of docs in Madison.

  1. Few medical facilities per resident
  2. Significantly more medical facilities than average
  3. 25% more medical facilities than areas of a similar size

Grocery Stores

3.5/5 stars based on undefined reviews

Suffice to say, this place is great for groceries.

  1. Few grocery stores per resident
  2. Significantly more grocery stores than average
  3. 21% more grocery stores than areas of a similar size

Parks

3.5/5 stars based on undefined reviews

You'll be living the park life in Madison.

  1. Few parks per resident
  2. Significantly more parks than average
  3. 55% more parks than areas of a similar size

Gas Stations

3/5 stars based on undefined reviews

Bumper sticker city. This place is good for filling up.

  1. Few gas stations per resident
  2. Significantly more gas stations than average
  3. 24% more gas stations than areas of a similar size

What Renters Are Saying

Madison Features

Area Has Litter

No

Say 50 of 54 renters

Good Place To Raise A Family

Yes

Say 48 of 54 renters

Noise Late At Night

No

Say 47 of 54 renters

Area Has Potholes

No

Say 44 of 54 renters

Nearby Parks

Yes

Say 43 of 54 renters

Busy Streets

No

Say 42 of 54 renters

Pet Friendly

Yes

Say 42 of 54 renters

Safe For Families

Yes

Say 42 of 54 renters

Area Has Kids Play Outside

Yes

Say 39 of 54 renters

Mostly Older Buildings

No

Say 38 of 54 renters

Quiet Area

Yes

Say 38 of 54 renters

Near Grocery Stores

Yes

Say 35 of 54 renters

Near Schools

Yes

Say 35 of 54 renters

Maintained Yards

Yes

Say 34 of 54 renters

Tree Lined Streets

Yes

Say 32 of 54 renters

Well Lit

No

Say 30 of 54 renters

Near Highways

No

Say 35 of 54 renters

Nice Views

No

Say 37 of 54 renters

Mostly Newer Buildings

No

Say 41 of 54 renters

Near Downtown

No

Say 42 of 54 renters

Madison Education

Schools

Percentage: 4/54/5

School Score

How satisfied do renters feel with the schools in this area.

Top Schools in Madison

10/10

Shorewood Hills Elementary School

Grades PK, K-5 • Public

9/10

Van Hise Elementary School

Grades K-5 • Public

9/10

Token Spring Elementary School

Grades PK, K-5 • Public

8/10

Randall Elementary School

Grades 3-5 • Public

8/10

Elm Lawn Elementary School

Grades PK, K-4 • Public

8/10

Arboretum Elementary School

Grades PK, K-4 • Public

Information provided by GreatSchools. To verify school enrollment eligibility, contact the school district directly.

What You Need to Know

Renter Articles

All About

Living in Madison, WI

EVERYTHING TO KNOW ABOUT RENTING AN APARTMENT IN MADISON, WI

Home to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, five beautiful lakes, and a wide assortment of shopping, dining and cultural venues, Madison is the urbane capital of the Badger State. Here you'll find a vibrant community of artisans, students, young professionals and families who love the city's proximity to pastoral countryside, the extensive parks system and the top-notch quality of life.

PLACES TO SEE IN MADISON

For outstanding views of the city's skyline and lakes, rent an apartment near Madison's Monona Terrace or Memorial Union Terrace. Locals head to State and Monroe streets for an eclectic mix of shops, restaurants, cafes and nightspots, and families love the Madison Children's Museum. The city is also home to a variety of institutions dedicated to art and history, as well as a zoo and botanical garden. If you're an architecture buff, Madison boasts many notable buildings by legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

THE BEST PLACES TO FIND AN APARTMENT FOR RENT IN MADISON

Madison offers a wide range of apartments for rent in a variety of communities throughout the city, from single-friendly studios and 1-bedroom units to family-focused 2- and 3-bedroom units. You can find convenient homes close to the University of Wisconsin (UW) Madison, high-rise apartments in downtown and excellent places to live near the city's lakes. Apartment Guide can help you locate apartments for rent in Madison, WI that complement your lifestyle, whether you want an apartment with a fireplace, covered parking, a patio, playgrounds or a fitness center. Our search program enables you to locate the right apartment based on criteria such as price, location, transportation options, pet policy and on-site amenities.
Madison's top neighborhoods run the gamut from the centrally located First Settlement and Marquette districts to the hip and trendy Monroe-Dudgeon neighborhood. For great deals on family-oriented apartments, head west to nearby suburbs like Middleton and Verona or south to Fitchburg.

THINGS TO DO IN MADISON

Head out from your apartment to enjoy Madison's thriving performing arts scene at spots like the Overture Center for the Arts, which features opera, ballet, symphony and theatrical productions. The city also hosts numerous food, music and art festivals throughout the year, including "Shake the Lake," billed as the state's largest Fourth of July pyrotechnic display.
From playgrounds and boat ramps to swimming pools and golf courses, Madison's large network of parks has something for every lover of the great outdoors. When it comes to collegiate sports, Madison residents are loyally devoted to their UW-Madison Badgers for football, basketball and more.

FREE THINGS TO DO IN MADISON

Want to have fun on a budget? Thanks to the Chazen Museum of Art, the University of Wisconsin Geology Museum, Vilas Park Beach and rooftop concerts every summer, you can find plenty of free things to do in Madison.

FUN ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS IN MADISON

Families love Madison's safe, inviting atmosphere and its huge variety of attractions and outings designed just for kids. Here are our top five picks for kid-friendly activities in Madison:

  • Olbrich Botanical Gardens: Escape to the tropics when you admire rare flowers in the Bolz Conservatory at these beautiful gardens. Kids love seeing the on-site waterfalls and a bronze elephant statue in the Thai pavilion.
  • Henry Vilas Zoo: One of America's few free zoos, this animal sanctuary on the shores of Lake Wingra offers a carousel for younger kids, plus special exhibits featuring polar bears and harbor seals.
  • Madison Children's Museum: Give kids a chance to get hands-on at this learning-oriented museum with a rooftop garden and a log cabin.
  • Aldo Leopold Nature Center: Discover more about local ecosystems as you and the kids hike through reclaimed forests at this serene outdoor destination in Monona.
  • Cave of the Mounds: Put on your spelunking gear for an hour-long cave tour featuring fascinating stalagmites and stalactites. In summer, kids can even sluice for gemstones.

MADISON SCHOOL DISTRICTS

When you're deciding on which apartment to rent in Madison, keep in mind that the city's best school districts are in neighborhoods like Shorewood Hills, west of downtown.

MADISON'S TOP GETAWAY DESTINATIONS

Hop onto I-90 for a weekend getaway to Chicago, just two and a half hours southeast of Madison. Milwaukee is even closer if you want to sail around Lake Michigan, and locals love making the three-hour drive north for snowmobile, snowshoe and ice fishing adventures in beautiful Door County.

FIND APARTMENTS FOR RENT IN MADISON

Finding a new place to live is a stressful experience. Be sure to use an apartment finder like Apartment Guide to help you locate your next rental property. Whether you're looking for a pet-friendly apartment or simply want an affordable place to live, we'll help you find apartments for rent in Madison that match your needs.