Maple Bluff vs. Nakoma? Which one and why? (Madison, Vilas: houses, neighborhoods)

[Stretchad]

Say you have two identical houses on identical lots on equally nice streets. They're completely the same in every single way, with the exception of the location. One is located in Maple Bluff, the other is in Nakoma. Which would you choose and why?

Thx!

[Drover]

Nakoma, because it's right next to the city's major green spaces, mostly UW Arboretum grounds and the Henry Vilas Park.

[L.K.]

Do you have kids that would be in school?

[Megan1967]

Nakoma. Maple Bluff is like Stepford and the people there (generally) are very stuck up. Nakoma has it's share of snobs, but it isn't the general atmosphere. Nakoma also has better schools, which affects you even if you don't have kids as (sadly) it is often the teachers who teach manners, not the parents (everywhere). You have to live with the neighborhood kids....

I know this post will irritate many, but I'm feeling very blunt today. I live on the far east side and couldn't afford a house in either neighborhood so I'm pretty objective. Also worked at Lakeview which is where MB kids are sent, though most go to private schools.

Maple Bluff is also very inconvenient to a lot of things where Nakoma is more centrally located.

[SerenityLL]

Nakoma every time. The neighborhood is much more convienient. The people are nicer. The schools are better. Nakoma is the best by far.

[Stretchad]

Originally Posted by L.K.

Do you have kids that would be in school?

Don't have any...yet. BUT, being in a good school district is important to me because of resale values. Or, if we stay in this neighborhood long enough to have school aged children, then obviously it becomes REALLY important.

[JoshB]

I like Maple Bluff because of the beautiful lake views and sunsets. During the summer you have a perfect view of "Rythym and Booms" yes the people can be stuck-up, but Maple Bluff also is closer to the Interstates and getting out of town seems easy. Maple Bluff has some beautiful homes.

Take Care, Josh

[ostrichrider]

Nakoma, 1000 times better than Maple Bluff. MB is almost like a gated community, and is surrounded by a very industrial run down area. And, the people are not as cool. Oh, and since it's not city of madison, the taxes are INSANE, even compared to Madison. Nakoma is close to a nice pedestrian friendly neighborhood too, and the arboretum. I can't imagine there is even a debate about these two neighborhoods, Nakoma wins hands down, unless you only care about having a bigger Lexus SUV than your neighbor and bragging about living by the governor.

[HWisconsin]

Ostrichrider's points are important. Maple Bluff is its own municipality while Nakoma is just a subdivision in the City of Madison, right? I don't like the fact there there seems to be no sidewalks in MB. Obviously, we are not welcome there. However, in general, the lots seem to be larger in MB. Someone tell me - do MB kids have their choice of Madison schools? The ones I knew went to Edgewood (private) and West. How could they get into West? I never thought to ask in high school. I had heard (20 years ago) that kids in the Town of Madison were allowed to choose any high school in the city and I wonder if it's the same in MB??

[Megan1967]

Any child who attends MMSD can choose what school they attend as long as there is room after the "resident" population is counted. It is then the responsibility of the child's family to get them to that school, however. The school district won't do special busing just because someone chooses to go to a school out of their assigned district. MB kids are assigned Lake View Elementary, Black Hawk Middle and East High School.