Is Madison a typical boring college town ?

[TommyGavin]

All politics aside, Madison is by far the best party town around. It is a very fun city.

[mrs.cool]

True, but unfortunately it's VERY hard to avoid the politics.

[argot]

I don't know how to answer this question until I figure out what the OP finds boring about college towns. Universities bring more events and culture to their area than any other single factor I can think of, and those are the antitheses of things I would expect in a "boring" town.

[Ragnar]

Originally Posted by MassVt

an affordable cost -of-living.

Cost of living is all relative. Yes, it only costs $75 to register your car in WI, sales tax in Madison is only 5.5% and there are no toll roads. However, the housing stock in Madison is generally expensive for what you get, the property taxes are insane (~2.2% of assessed home value) and the long cold winters make utility costs add up fast. Even though there are a lot of professional jobs in the area, I would say that Madison is a rather expensive place to live for its size, amenities and geographic location.

[Indyking]

Originally Posted by Ragnar

Cost of living is all relative. Yes, it only costs $75 to register your car in WI, sales tax in Madison is only 5.5% and there are no toll roads. However, the housing stock in Madison is generally expensive for what you get, the property taxes are insane (~2.2% of assessed home value) and the long cold winters make utility costs add up fast. Even though there are a lot of professional jobs in the area, I would say that Madison is a rather expensive place to live for its size, amenities and geographic location.

I just came from a 5K run by the beautiful lake on dirt trails surrounded by nature and gorgeous trees... This weekend I will be enjoying beautiful spring days at the excellent Zoo on Saturday and celebrate Mothers Day on Sunday doing a gorgeous nature walk in the Arboretum, all of which are free! I love Madison; unfortunately I'm leaving this summer and will miss it dearly.

I honestly consider Madison to be an excellent bang for the buck, if you will, for what is has to offer considering all expenses.

Also, one that looks at cost of living should also consider median income, and Madison is among the top 10 on adjusted income in the whole nation:

10 Cities With the Highest and Lowest Real Incomes - US News and World Report

[MassVt]

Originally Posted by Ragnar

Cost of living is all relative. Yes, it only costs $75 to register your car in WI, sales tax in Madison is only 5.5% and there are no toll roads. However, the housing stock in Madison is generally expensive for what you get, the property taxes are insane (~2.2% of assessed home value) and the long cold winters make utility costs add up fast. Even though there are a lot of professional jobs in the area, I would say that Madison is a rather expensive place to live for its size, amenities and geographic location.

It's still relative; compared to East Coast prices, it's quite affordable.

[paulaann87]

I grew up in the Madison area and for a city its size, I think it has a lot to offer. There are opportunities for plays, concerts, etc. and a few smaller museums if you're into that kind of stuff. Plenty of fun places to eat if you know where to look. The zoo is awesome for people of all ages and it's free! The area around the capitol and the lakes is really beautiful and fun. If you're into more outdoorsy kind of stuff there are plenty of things to do in the surrounding area. And if you need a bigger-city fix once in awhile you're only 90 minutes from Milwaukee, 3 hours from Chicago, and 4 hours from Minneapolis-St. Paul.