Young Couple Relocation Questions (Madison, Fitchburg: real estate, renting, high crime)

[dcnurse]

Hi,
My husband and I are potentially looking at relocation and would like some helpful insight. We currently live outside of DC. He is a govenment employee and I am a specialized pediatric nurse. We have been married for 2 years and have no kids, however, are thinking of kids in the near future. We are curious what areas are for us. We are looking for an area that has things to do around it. Whether that be farmers markets, target, malls, food chains, sit down places to eat, coffee bars, and bars in general. We both have loved DC itself, but the city life was not for us. Our current location is about 15 minutes out of the city in a larger suburb, but I"m assuming Madison is much calmer than DC. We are both originally from the Midwest and made this transition for his career, but now have the opportunity to get back. Any thoughts on places to start looking whether it be in Madison proper or suburbs? Thanks!!

[Megan1967]

Sounds like you'd be happiest in the Atwood/Willy Street area, just east of the Capital or the west side.

One thing that is nice about Madison which you do not have in the DC area is that you can get to just everything in a pretty quick trip by car and often by bike, from any where in the city.

Aside from Middleton which isn't even really a suburb as it runs right into Madison, I would stay in the city if I were you. The other 'burbs (and that term is used loosely since were are talking about a metro area of 270K) just don't have enough of what you are looking for. Definitely avoid Sun Prairie, Deforest, Deerfield, Cambridge, McFarland, Mout Horeb, and Verona. All very rural and not much in terms of shopping, culture or "action." Not that these are bad things, but it doesn't sound like what you are looking for.

Some may argue that Cambridge has art, but it's just a bunch of crafty stuff. The pottery is pretty, but it isn't enough to make it worth living there. Great for a day trip, but otherwise it is too far away from, well, everything.

[karisann]

I grew up in Madison, and lived there up until two years ago when we relocated to England. My husband and I (also a young couple with no kids yet) both enjoyed living on the far west side of Madison. That being said, I'm not sure the east side is any different I just don't know it as well.

The downtown area (including Atwood/Willy St) is a great place to go out but I wouldn't recommend living there. There are so many students and constant housing turnover. It was ok when I was a student at UW but it doesn't seem like an area a young couple would enjoy living in.

I agree with Megan, I'd avoid the suburbs and stay in Madison (except Fitchburg & Middleton which are essentially Madison).

[Ricksta]

If you would rather get away from the city, Westport or Waunakee is your best shot. If you need to get to work no matter how bad it's snowing, move close to where you work.

Madison is probably close to a DC burb. Not a real high crime area, but the ones that are commited sometimes get National news. If you want to be kept on your toes night and day, move to the Allied Drive area. Odds are you'll hear gunshots every night. But don't worry. The Mayor and Chief of Police say the neighborhood is good.

[Alliecatt]

My husband and I recently relocated from Chicago with 2 kids. We are currently renting and looking at real estate in the upper $200s. We want to be walking distance to good commercial stuff like you mentioned - particularly restaurants, coffee shops, food stores - but also wanted to be close to good green space and be in a neighborhood with good schools.

Dudgeon-Monroe, west of the capital, has all that and a very vibrant feel, but its tough to find a decent home under $300k. Westmoreland and Sunset Village are nearby and a little less expensive overall and still nice, but doesn't have the same urban feel. Bear in mind that "urban" in DC is not like "urban" in Madison - you'd probably find Dudgeon-Monroe to be very accessible, easy to get around in and not nearly as hectic and crowded as a DC neighborhood with similar amenities. That was certainly our experience coming from Chicago.

The isthmus and the Atwood-Schenk neighborhood are also appealing - schools are not reputed to be quite as good (although probably not really an issue for you at this point). Nice homes under $300k come up from time to time but seem to get snatched up pretty quickly.

We looked at Sun Prairie, since it has a nice downtown area that is being redeveloped with shops and restaurants but found it waaaaay too small town still. Absolutely dead on a beautiful Sunday afternoon - no one enjoying the outdoor dining options. It felt like a ghost town. Middleton is a little more happening but also a lot more expensive.

[Luv4ThePaws]

Hi everyone!! My girlfriend (who's from there) recommended Madison to my husband and I. We are currently looking at some NW Indiana suburbs, with my husband taking the train in to work in Chicago. She said Madison would be a better option, as you have the ammenities of the big city right there, and your nice family-friendly suburbs. What do you think? I am 23, my husband is 32 and we are looking to have kids in a couple of years. We don't go out to bars or need any sort of nightlife entertainment, just some nice restaurants and friendly people. We have 4 rescued dogs, 2 little and 2 big, so are there any areas that won't allow that many pets? We would be able to afford into the upper $200s (but cheaper would be good too!), definately not into the $300s. We want a feeling of a community with welcoming neighbors, but we also want our personal space with some room between the houses. Good schools too! Thanks so much!!

[Luv4ThePaws]

To clarify my above post, it would either be living in NW Indiana (working in Chicago) or living and working in Madison.... Someone messaged me saying a commute from Madison to Chicago isn't do-able and I thought I should clarify! Any good suburbs with lower taxes than Dane County but still close to Madison? Thanks!!!!