Life in Madison
Madison is the capital and second-largest city in Wisconsin with approximately 270,000 residents. It is located in the south-central part of the state. The Ho-Chunk Nations, which has call this land home for over 12,000 years, calls the area Teejop (Dejope) meaning “four lakes” – Monona, Mendota, Wingra, and Waubesa. The city is know for a variety of aspects, including its vibrant culture, sports teams, outdoor recreation opportunities, and the presence the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Go Badgers!
Neighborhoods
Graduate Student at UW have a wide range of housing options to consider – both on and 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.
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.
Eagle Heights
Eagle Heights and University Houses are UW-owned graduate student housing communities located west of the UW campus and along Lake Mendota. They feature the largest community garden in the country, various playgrounds and picnic areas, and a community center.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Atwood
The Atwood neighborhood on the East Side of Madison is known for its funky vibe, great food, and entertainment.
Transportation
Things to Do in Madison
- Outdoor UW (equipment rental, outdoor explorer series, group experiences, boot mooring & crane, canoe & kayak storage, and if home to Hoofers Student Organization – home to the mountaineering-, outing-, riding-, sailing-, scuba-, and ski & snowboard- groups)
- College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Student Organizations
- Allen Centennial Garden
- Overture Center for the Arts
- Madison Museum of Contemporary Art
- Wisconsin State Capital
- Henry Vilas Zoo
- Wisconsin Historical Museum
- Olbrich Gardens
- Dane County Farmers’ Market
- Concerts on the Square
- Madison Children’s Museum
- and so much more!