Relocating with young children - Sun Praire, Verona, Waunakee, Windsor, or another??? (Madison: waterpark)

[slindsay]

Hi, thanks in advance for helping!

We are relocating in six weeks and house hunting next week. It is so hard to get an idea of where to focus on. It looks like the schools are good in most of these areas, my children are still under two so it will be a little while.

All of these areas seem nice, are there any major differences? We are looking for a nice family area.

Any thoughts or information are appreciated!

[Megan1967]

If I had to choose between those four I would choose Verona and Waunakee, in that order.

Verona has a nice small town feel, yet has easy access to central and western Madison. The presence of the Epic Software campus only promises good things for the community as well.

Waunakee is know for excellent schools, also has a nice small town feel, but is further from points of interest in the area. It is closest to the Northside of Madison, not a red hot area, and there is very little there in terms of activities, dinning, shopping, etc. Middleton would be the closest area for dining and shopping.

Sun Prairie has less expensive housing, but it is kind of a boring place to live, their schools don't have a great reputation and it is rather far from most of the things I find interesting in the area. The closest part of Madison would be the East Towne Mall area (close to where I live) and I can tell you it is sort of a cultural waste land unless you like big box chain stores and fast/medium speed chain food.

Windsor is way the heck out there in the middle of nowhere. No idea how family friendly, but you really wouldn't be living in Madison out there. Again, the East Towne Mall area would be the closest part of Madison you'd have easy access to.

Have you considered Middleton? Easy access to Western and central Madison. Better amenities than any of the 4 you're currently considering. Nice family style neighborhoods in town, ritzy housing developments on the outskirts. Pretty much something for everyone. That would be my first choice in the geographic area you are looking at.

Have you considered living in town? I'd probably go for any of these areas in town for family friendly & beautiful older homes: Monroe Street area, Regent Street area, Lakeside Street area (also has a funky bohemian vibe).

[JoshB]

I'd recommend as Megan said, Middleton. The Verona, which btw is an awesome place to raise a family. Sun Prairie seems nice if you ask me, may be a bit boring but seems like a perfect midwestern town.

[gold*dust1]

Populations:
Sun Prairie 25,392
Waunakee 10,360
Verona 10,166
Windsor 5,286

If anything Windsor would have to be the most "boring" as it doesn't even have its own grocery store. You would have to travel a few miles down the road to Deforest. It is not in the middle of nowwhere, as Madison and East Washington Ave. leading to downtown, are a short trip away. They do have 2 new housing developments although parts of the rest of the town look unkept.

I grew up in Verona and Waunakee. Out of the 2, Waunakee is seriously overrated, as the landscape of the town is nothing special. You can also smell a strong odor of manure in that town several months out of the year. They have always stated their school system is great, but having been in it, I don't know what was sooooo spectacular.

Verona is okay, but I would say a place many have now deemed an oasis not based entirely on reality. Its 2 main gateways into Madison are littered with big box and chains.

Middleton is becoming a land of chain restarants and big box stores...they are getting a Sonic for heavens sake and I like Sonic for what it's worth.

Sun Prairie is the one of the fastest growing cities in the state and has good interstate access. They have built 3 new schools and have a nice pool/waterpark and many parks they take pride in. They have 3 grocery stores at present with a 4th in the wings, and a Target is being built as we speak. They also have a fair share of restaurants, local and chain to keep it interesting and convenient.