Madison is a mid-sized city (population 285,300) located in south-central Wisconsin. It is the capital of Wisconsin and the second-largest city in the state. The Ho-Chuck Nation, which has called this land home for over 12,000 years, calls the area Teejop (pronounced Day-JOPE), meaning “four lakes”. Lakes Monona and Mendota constitute two of the four lakes and also sandwich the city in an Isthmus, or a strip of land situated between two bodies of water. The city is known for its craft food and drink, friendly culture, sports teams, bike friendliness, arts and festivals, beautiful nature, and of course, UW!
Neighborhoods
As a Graduate Student at UW, you have the choice to live on or off campus. On campus housing options include Eagle Heights and University Houses, located west of campus on the shores of Lake Mendota. You can also live in Harvey Street Apartments southeast of Eagle Heights just off University Avenue.
Your off-campus housing options are expansive; we recommend checking out the briefs below as a starting point for considering where you may want to live. You can check out Campus Area Housing for apartment listings near campus. If you are interested in living in a co-op, check out Madison Community Cooperative.
As you explore housing options in Madison, feel free to make a copy of this housing spreadsheet, courteously provided by Human Development & Family Studies PhD alumna, Aosai Liu.
Note: The list of neighborhoods below is not an exhaustive list of neighborhoods in Madison. We have included neighborhoods that have historically been popular among graduate students and are within biking/walking/bussing distance to campus.
South & West of Campus
The neighborhoods south and west of campus generally have a quieter and more suburban feel due to their distance from downtown. But don’t mistake quiet for boring, as there is a lot to do and love about the West Side!
Things to Do
- Walk, run, or bike around the Arboretum
- Rent a paddleboard or kayak on Lake Wingra or Lake Mendota
- Hang out at Leopold’s Cafe or Pasture & Plenty
- Go to a football game at Camp Randall
- Go to the Henry Vilas Zoo (admission is free!)
- Window shop on Monroe Street
Eagle Heights
Eagle Heights is a UW-owned graduate student housing community located west of the UW campus and along Lake Mendota. Eagle Heights features the largest community garden in the country, various playgrounds and picnic areas, and a community center.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Kid-friendly
- Great amenities
- Surrounded by nature
Cons:
- Not close to downtown
- Approximately a 25 minute walk to nearby grocery stores, restaurants, and cafes (easier bike and bus accessibility)
Greenbush & Vilas
The Greenbush and Vilas neighborhoods, located directly south of campus, are popular areas for UW undergraduate off-campus housing. It’s close to Camp Randall and features a lively bar and cafe scene as well as the beloved Greenbush Bakery. It is also home to the Henry Vilas Zoo
Pros:
- Walking distance to UW campus
- Walking distance to Trader Joe’s and Metro Market grocery stores
- Walking distance to cafes, restaurants, and bars
- Near Arboretum, Lake Wingra, and Monona Bay
Cons:
- Regent street bars can get loud
- Significant crowds on football gamedays due to proximity to Camp Randall
Grocery Stores
- Trader Joe’s
- Metro Market
- Metcalfe’s Market
- Fresh Madison Market
- Regent Market Co-op
- Lee’s Oriental LLC
- International Market Madison, WI
- Whole Foods Market
- Pick ‘n’ Safe
Dudgeon-Monroe
The Dudgeon-Monroe neighborhood is a favorite location among UW and Edgewood College professors, giving the neighborhood a family-friendly and quaint feeling. This neighborhood shares Camp Randall with the Regent neighborhood, borders the UW Arboretum and Lake Wingra.
Pros:
- Close to campus
- Variety of restaurants and bars
- Arboretum and Lake Wingra nearby and easily accessible
- Family-friendly
- Easy access to public transportation
- Walking distance to Trader Joe’s grocery store
Cons:
- Farther from downtown (approximately 2-3 miles)
- Significant crowds on football gamedays due to proximity to Camp Randall
Regent
The Regent neighborhood stretches along the south side of University Avenue. This residential neighborhood is quiet and family-friendly while maintaining the convenience of being close to campus and featuring the charming old University Avenue.
Pros:
- Quiet and family-friendly
- Close to campus
- Within walking distance of various hospitals and clinics
- Within walking distance to Camp Randall for game days
Cons:
- Less walkable than other neighborhoods near campus
- Regent street can get busy due to close proximity to Camp Randall
- Not as many cafes, restaurants and bars compared to other neighborhoods, but within walking distance of many on Monroe street
East of Campus
Neighborhoods east of campus are closer to downtown and thus tend to have a more bustling feel. These dynamic areas of town have a lot to offer!
Things to Do:
- Window shop on State Street
- Wander through the many free museums downtown, including the Museum of Contemporary Art and Madison Children’s Museum
- Enjoy the serenity of Olbrich Botanical Gardens
- See a show at the Majestic, Sylvee, Barrymore Theater or Orpheum Theater
- Go to After Shock Arcade or I/O Arcade for some drinks and retro video games
- Catch a Forward Madison FC Soccer Game at Breese Stevens Field
- See a comedy performance at Comedy on State
State-Langdon
The State-Langdon neighborhood is sandwiched between campus and downtown and is thus a very popular neighborhood for UW students. This neighborhood features State Street, a pedestrian road that stretches from the eastern edge of the UW campus to the Capitol building. This area is full of bars, restaurants, cafes, shops, and other entertainment, making it a lively part of the city to live in.
Pros:
- Very walkable and bike-friendly
- Plentiful food and entertainment
- Right off of campus
- Apartments right next to lake Mendota
- Home to the Madison Night Market — an event where local artists, vendors, and restaurants showcase art, handmade goods, and food
Cons:
- This is a popular area for visitors to meander, so be ready for crowds on gamedays and during other events.
- Big Greek Life presence. Fraternity and Sorority Row are in this neighborhood.
- A lot of undergraduates live in this neighborhood
Tenney-Lapham
The Tenney-Lapham neighborhood is situated on the East Side along the shore of Lake Mendota. It’s an up-and-coming residential neighborhood featuring the picturesque Tenney Park, which is lush in the warm months and becomes a skating rink during the cold months.
Pros:
- Lake views and within walking distance of the Capitol Square
- Great restaurants, cafes, and shops within walking distance
- Walking distance to Festival Foods and Willy Street Co-Op grocery stores
- Features Breese-Stevens Field, a venue for the Madison Forward professional soccer team and numerous community events during the warm months
Cons:
- Johnson Street, Gorham, and East Washington Ave are all large thru-ways, so those who live directly on these streets should be prepared for some traffic noise
Grocery Stores:
- Willy Street Co-op
- Fresh Madison Market
- Jenifer Street Market
- Asian Midway Foods
- Festival Foods
- Capitol Center Market
- Oriental Shop
- Pick ‘n’ Save
Capitol/Downtown
The downtown area is constantly humming with activity. Every Saturday from April through November, the Square hosts the country’s largest vendors-only farmer’s market. From late June through July, the Madison Symphony Orchestra performs Concerts on the Square each Wednesday. During the second weekend of July, local artists take over the space for an entire weekend for Art Fair on the Square. Every labor day weekend, the Taste of Madison, which is a big food festival, happens downtown. Beyond events, the downtown area is home to a wide array of bars and restaurants, cafes, shops, live music venues, and museums.
Pros:
- Central location and has plenty of bike paths, bus routes, and sidewalks for getting to campus
- Numerous restaurants, cafes, shops, local vendors and businesses
- Within Walking/biking distance of Festival Foods on East Washington and Capitol Centre Market on Broom Street
Cons:
- Rent is typically more expensive in this neighborhood
- Typically greater activity in this area due to the numerous events held throughout the year
- Events lead to street closures around the capital. Keep this in mind if you plan to drive to and from this neighborhood
Willy Street
The Willy Street neighborhood has long been known as the hippie haven of Madison. It’s lively, artsy, eco-friendly, and home to some of the best restaurants in the city.
Pros:
- Walkable and historic area that is close to downtown and Lake Monona
- Great and diverse food scene
- A plethora of local, artisanal vendors, thrift shops and second hand stores
- Within walking distance of Willy Street Co-op and Festival Foods grocery stores
Cons:
- Farther from campus (need to bus or bike)
- Willy street can get busy on the main road
Atwood
The Atwood neighborhood on the East Side of Madison is known for its funky vibe, great food, and entertainment.
Pros:
- Walkable area
- Close to Lake Monona
- Great restaurants
Cons:
- Not within walking distance of UW campus
- No large grocery stores in walking distance (Woodman’s and Willy Street Co-op within biking and bussing distance)
Transportation
Bus
Madison’s bus system is well built-out and reliable. All UW students receive bus passes at no additional cost to them (the cost of these passes are covered by segregated fees each semester).
Bike
Madison consistently ranks among the best cities for biking and is recognized for its ever growing commitment to biking infrastructure, residential and commercial accessibility via bikes, and biker safety
Walk
The vast majority of UW students walk to campus. Most neighborhoods surrounding campus are very pedestrian friendly.
Drive
While you can choose to drive to campus, parking can be challenging and expensive. See here for more parking information.