Hey everyone, Crime rate is something to consider -Madison sits at 550.6 per 100K. It's a a small town city with about 12,277 people. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. Property taxes are high but you get good services. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse.
9 upvotes
11 Replies
Madeline P.
accurate
40 upvotes
Grayson Gonzalez
literally same
40 upvotes
Isabelle Cook
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it exceeded my expectations. Internet is improving in most areas.
40 upvotes
indywalker2024
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a HR manager, 44, moved here 1 years ago from Houston. I've lived in Meadowbrook and Springfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Friendly community, easy to meet people
3. Good internet infrastructure
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Urban sprawl is real
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The community vibe situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Meadowbrook: Great for singles. average vibes, walkable.
- Springfield: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from Houston, everything felt surprisingly good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $90K-$100K here.
**Final verdict:**
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
36 upvotes
Dominic
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a marketing manager, 40, moved here 10 years ago from Baltimore. I've lived in South and Downtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Low crime in most neighborhoods
3. Good internet infrastructure
4. The people are generally improving - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The traffic situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- South: Great for remote workers. solid vibes, walkable.
- Downtown: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from Baltimore, everything felt hit or miss. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $60K-$90K here.
**Final verdict:**
Happy to answer more specific questions.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
35 upvotes
Jack M.
Hot take but it was the best decision I ever made. I know a lot of people disagree but after 14 years here, that's my honest assessment.
33 upvotes
Cameron W.
Totally agree!
22 upvotes
Anna B.
Bought a house here in 2024 and it exceeded my expectations. Property values have gone up a bit since then.
18 upvotes
Savannah
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem surprisingly good.
I've been here 7 years and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The thing nobody mentions is job market. It's established and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the community vibe is legit. And if you're into golfing, this place is improving.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Riverside side vs the Fairview side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Definitely worth checking out..
10 upvotes
Sebastian W.
Hot take but I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. I know a lot of people disagree but after 10 years here, that's my honest assessment.
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