Madison, WI versus Twin Cities (Milwaukee, York: fit in, good schools, university)

[Zizza]

What are the major differences between Madison, WI and the Twin Cities? I realize that Madison is much smaller, but what else? The things I'm most interested in hearing about are:

1) Weather - wind, snow, humidity, and mosquitoes (although that's not really weather)
2) The Great Outdoors - does one place have better parks? I'm mostly interested in more remote getaways where I can let my dog loose
3) People and openness to strangers - there's a lot on the Minnesota message boards about "Minnesota Nice" and some references to that culture on the Wisconsin ones as well - as a New Yorker, this concerns me
4) Schools
5) Restaurants

If you don't think there are any major --or even minor-- differences, please let me know!

Thanks in advance. I'll be posting this on both boards to get a fairer response.

[JMadison]

Originally Posted by Zizza

What are the major differences between Madison, WI and the Twin Cities? I realize that Madison is much smaller, but what else? The things I'm most interested in hearing about are:

1) Weather - wind, snow, humidity, and mosquitoes (although that's not really weather)
2) The Great Outdoors - does one place have better parks? I'm mostly interested in more remote getaways where I can let my dog loose
3) People and openness to strangers - there's a lot on the Minnesota message boards about "Minnesota Nice" and some references to that culture on the Wisconsin ones as well - as a New Yorker, this concerns me
4) Schools
5) Restaurants

If you don't think there are any major --or even minor-- differences, please let me know!

Thanks in advance. I'll be posting this on both boards to get a fairer response.

The largest group of Somalis outside of Somalia is *not* in Madison.

[Bowie]

This topic comes up more frequently than you might imagine. Here are links to a handful of existing threads in the forum that should help:

http://www.city-data.com/forum/madis...s-student.html

http://www.city-data.com/forum/madis...ht=minneapolis

http://www.city-data.com/forum/madis...ht=minneapolis

http://www.city-data.com/forum/madis...ht=minneapolis

http://www.city-data.com/forum/madis...ht=minneapolis

[gold*dust1]

Originally Posted by Zizza

What are the major differences between Madison, WI and the Twin Cities? I realize that Madison is much smaller, but what else? The things I'm most interested in hearing about are:

1) Weather - wind, snow, humidity, and mosquitoes (although that's not really weather)
2) The Great Outdoors - does one place have better parks? I'm mostly interested in more remote getaways where I can let my dog loose
3) People and openness to strangers - there's a lot on the Minnesota message boards about "Minnesota Nice" and some references to that culture on the Wisconsin ones as well - as a New Yorker, this concerns me
4) Schools
5) Restaurants

If you don't think there are any major --or even minor-- differences, please let me know!

Thanks in advance. I'll be posting this on both boards to get a fairer response.

Being a native Madisonian but having lived in the TC and other places, if you want a bigger city feeling with a more exciting vibe pick Mpls.

[claudelle]

I just noticed your question when I was reading on the Minneapolis board...but thought I'd answer here. You got me thinking and I am having a hard time putting my thoughts in order. Even though when you are ticking off similarities, there are many, I think they are two very different areas...and I can't quite figure out why I say that. Just so you know where I am coming from, I grew up in Madison and lived there until about age 20. My daughter lives in Minneapolis and I have spent a lot of time there, too.

Being a much larger metro area, obviously Minneapolis has much more to offer in every way -- culturally, fine arts, museums, industry, and especially, night life. I live in Milwaukee which is fairly similar in size to Minneapolis but we do not have half as much night life. Minneapolis has the vibe of a BIG city.

Madison is a very unique city, but, in many ways, it is dominated by the university. Many people come to Madison to attend school and then fall in love with the area and never leave. Consequently you have a well-educated work force. Your cab driver very well may have a PhD in English.

There is very little industry. The majority of the jobs are in government or the university. This makes the city a bit more one-dimensional. The Capitol dominates the downtown area.

Madison is a beautiful area. Someone on the other board said there were two lakes. This would be incorrect. Madison is an isthmus located between the two largest lakes, but there are five altogether in the immediate area. The two downtown lakes are much larger than the lakes in Minneapolis. There are a number of wonderful parks, a nice zoo and a beautiful arboretum. Everything is very user friendly and easily accessible.

I think the weather in the Twin Cities is more severe. It gets hotter and more humid in the summer and colder in the winter.

Both cities have good schools and active-minded citizens. Lots of people ride bikes (even in the winter) and there are many bike trails. The bus systems in both cities are good and Minneapolis does have the commuter train. It also has a bigger airport with many more direct flights. I don't have any facts to back this up, but I think the traffic may very well be worse in Madison! For a town that claims to be "green," they have allowed tremendous sprawl in all directions with little apparent planning... the highways to move traffic have not kept up. There is excellent medical care, hospitals, etc. in both areas.

Most people who end up in either city seem to love it. Will you have a chance to come out to visit before having to make a choice? As a New Yorker, are you afraid people will be overly friendly?

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by Zizza

3) People and openness to strangers - there's a lot on the Minnesota message boards about "Minnesota Nice" and some references to that culture on the Wisconsin ones as well - as a New Yorker, this concerns me.

What is the part that concerns you?

[gold*dust1]

I can't really speak for MN but do know what you are referencing when you say "MN nice" from reading those threads. I think it might be a little like saying all New Yorkers are rude and obnoxious as that is always what we have heard. I'm sure in almost anyplace there is a surface friendliness most people adhere to.

The truth for Madison is that people can be abrupt, self absorbed and not overwhlemingly welcoming. On the flip side you will run into some very nice people as well. To make a generalization it's probably 50/50.

As with anywhere new you might move, it will probably take time to establish real friendships but if you were stranded on the side of the road would someone jump in to help you? Yes, more than likely especially if you are female.

[Zizza]

Thank you for your responses. I'll try to explain more why "Minnesota Nice" concerns me. It's described as a surface friendliness, and as a conservative approach to building friendships. Many outsiders to the region say that they find that the natives only have long-standing friendships with other natives. Your neighbor might smile and lend you a cup of sugar, but you'll never really get to know them. As someone who would like to make new friends, this concerns me.

This is especially true for me, because as a New Yorker, I often have loud arguments with my friends, only to have it completely forgotten moments later. We don't mind asking more probing, personal questions relatively early in a friendship... in fact, we enjoy that. I don't mind adjusting my behavior to the region's culture a little bit, but I wonder if I'll ever be able to fit in, or if I'll even wan to.

I'm aware that it isn't fair to say that everyone in Madison or Minneapolis is a certain way, but I'm just wondering if it is fair to generalize somewhat, and if so, how people in these places might differ.

[Tiger Beer]

Okay, I see what you mean.

Actually I haved lived in both NY and in MN - New York City and Minneapolis respectively.

I think NY/NJ are the exception to the rest of the country. Minnesota isn't really any different to the rest of the country.

Personally, I love the NY/NJ style of just speaking your mind, letting all the pieces out there, and sort it out later...and all is cool.

I think anywhere outside of NY/NJ, you'd be experiencing a totally different way of people relating to each other.

Minneapolis didn't feel much different than most other places I lived in the U.S. (minus NY) with nice/rude. I actually didn't find NYers rude myself, just refreshingly direct and honest.

Yeah, in Minneapolis and the entire Midwest, people often 'beat around the bush' with that they are trying to say. However there are exceptions.

Personally, I don't think it is that big of a concern. I notice many people in Minnesota and the Midwest also have an insight into things...kind of an intelligence to them. So I don't think your style will be completely foreign/strange and therefore undesireable. I think they'll just see it for what it is, and adapt accordingly.

More than anything, I think midwesterners in general are just great at adapting easily. Seems like many midwesterners go all over the U.S., but few even know they have midwesterners among them (unlike the quick awareness you have a Bostonian or Southerner or whatever among a community). That characterstic you'll find will probably be that they'll also adapt to you quite quickly.

I could be wrong, but just my perception anyways.

[gold*dust1]

Originally Posted by Zizza

Thank you for your responses. I'll try to explain more why "Minnesota Nice" concerns me. It's described as a surface friendliness, and as a conservative approach to building friendships. Many outsiders to the region say that they find that the natives only have long-standing friendships with other natives. Your neighbor might smile and lend you a cup of sugar, but you'll never really get to know them. As someone who would like to make new friends, this concerns me.

This is especially true for me, because as a New Yorker, I often have loud arguments with my friends, only to have it completely forgotten moments later. We don't mind asking more probing, personal questions relatively early in a friendship... in fact, we enjoy that. I don't mind adjusting my behavior to the region's culture a little bit, but I wonder if I'll ever be able to fit in, or if I'll even wan to.

I'm aware that it isn't fair to say that everyone in Madison or Minneapolis is a certain way, but I'm just wondering if it is fair to generalize somewhat, and if so, how people in these places might differ.

Well you really won't know the full picture until you move here and experience it. Maybe plan a visit.

I'm thinking it might not be your cup of tea and this is coming from someone that will speak their mind with no trepidation given the right atmosphere.