Grad student moving to Madison, East or West? Help!

[Megan1967]

Ooooo.... Be very careful about the Northside. It is pretty rough in places and getting more so as time goes on. Unusually cheap rents usually mean it isn't a place you want to live. There are some complexes on the Northside - Packer Towne Homes, Northport, Kennedy Heights that I would definately avoid, but there are some just around Warner park that are pretty bad, too.

[sondra_finchley]

Also, keep in mind that your student fees pay for your "free" bus pass. My partner takes the bus to school and we live in Willy/Marquette- his stop is a block over and he hops right on and it drops him off practically in front of his class. The bike path is also right here and can take you anywhere you need to go (although getting up on to campus is a little tricky). Its possible to ride your bike on the path to Trader Joes if you wanted to ditch the car completely in the summer. Weve ridden to brunch on the weekend to the West Side (Regent St) and it didnt take anytime at all. The city layout makes driving a major hassle at any rate so taking a bike is faster half the time.

Id also like to pipe up for the oft-forgotten Jenifer St Market tucked back in here by Schoeps Ice Cream. Theyve got pretty much anything you could need, great prices, and a walk in beer cooler packed with all sorts of fun regional beers. Its also on the bike path.