Have any of you been to Madison, WI? (Austin, Weir: credit, how much)

[Megan1967]

People always say that they are very similar places. A couple of Austin (bred and born) natives who have moved up here say it is like Austin, but more like the Austin of old. I'd really rather avoid starting yet another discussion about how much Austin has changed for the worst, I just want to know how they compare today.

How would any of you who have spent time in both compare the two?

[IDtoTX]

I went to school in Madison and loved it. I just moved to Austin recently. Austin has a much bigger city feel to me than Madison but understand that the vast majority of my Madison experience was State St., Langdon, Mifflin and campus. So, I'm not sure that I can be a huge help. The weather is DEFINITELY better in Austin. I think they are similar in being college towns, lots of stuff to do outdoors and the lakes.

If you are looking at Austin as an option I would certainly consider it! Hope that helps!

[Megan1967]

I'm interested in the differences that the differences in population make. Madison is about half the size (maybe even a little less) of Austin, so I expect some of the differences will be a function of that. You're right, most students don't really leave campus so Madison may be a tad more urban than you experienced, but not much.

[brattpowered]

I think Madison is what people who have never been to Austin think Austin is. I would also say Madison is what the hardcore Keep Austin Weird folks think Austin is or would like it to be.

Take Madison, fill the hills up with houses and strip malls, turn up the heat and dry out the landscape for a few years, and dilute the progressive population with a few hundred thousand corporate techies and suburbanites, and you have Austin. To its credit, Austin has more big city conveniences, jobs, and cultural diversity.