Middleton or Verona? (Madison, Fitchburg: houses, neighborhoods, new construction)

[123writer]

Hi,
My family and I are most likely moving to Madison from San Diego this summer and would like to live in Middleton/Verona/Fitchburg area. This is not a job related move and we have no commute issues. My brother lives in Fitchburg and his sons go to Verona High School. My daughter will be starting high school next fall and would love to go to the same school as her cousin, but we are not finding too many houses we like in the Verona area. Only parts of Fitchburg go to the Verona schools also. An honest opinion--Is there a great difference in Verona versus Middleton High School.? My daughter is coming from a very highly ranked private school ( I think California public schools are lacking) and I want her to be in the best school I can find. My son is ready to start middle school so any input on those would be helpful too. We are looking to spend 600K to 850K on a house in a neighborhood that is not cookie cutter, where kids play together, ride bikes etc.. Any input would be appreciated!!! Thanks

[Nique]

I would go for Middleton. Both areas are growing, but Middleton seems to have more newer developments with more interesting architecture and a wider variety of neighborhoods.

I went to Madison Memorial growing up and had friends at both Middleton and Verona. Middleton just seemed nicer, and I know they did a bunch of new construction at the high school just a few years ago.

[Wellstone]

Originally Posted by 123writer

Hi,
We are looking to spend 600K to 850K on a house in a neighborhood that is not cookie cutter, where kids play together, ride bikes etc.. Any input would be appreciated!!! Thanks

that sounds like middleton. verona schools used to be massively overcrowded. the population exploded and yet the taxpayers refused to pony up and do anything about the problem. i certainly hope by now that has been addressed, that was around 10 years ago when they couldn't get anything through.

middleton is where more of the well off folks are going to be, a good safe place to live and i don't think there is a large snobbish factor there either.

typically suburbs of a liberal city like madison are going to be somewhat right wing, especially if the people that live there have money. middleton surprisingly isn't that way. even if it was, being lumped in with the rest of dane county, who would know the difference. they'd be virtually powerless.

[filo]

I'm a Middleton High School graduate, so I'm a bit biased, but I really enjoyed growing up in Middleton. I think Verona is an ok place as well but I know first hand that the schools in Middleton are excellent. They very recently expanded and modernized the high school and a few other schools in the district so they are even nicer than when I attended. There are a lot of other opportunities in the area as well including sports facilities, great library, etc.

[bluepencil]

There's always this:

Best Places to Live: Top 100 - Middleton, Wis. (1) - Money Magazine