Can anyone provide info about these areas around Madison.... (Sun Prairie: low income, apartments)

[jcl1329]

My husband and I are relocating to Madison this summer and are planning to rent....would prefer to keep it around $1500 or less per month. Have found a few places so far but would like some feedback about the areas. Specifically, the Woodlawn neighborhood and also the west side of Madison, south of the beltline near Prairie Ridge Park (east of County M Road). I keep hearing about east/west Madison but what about to the north. Are there any nice areas up that way?

Outside of Madison, is it worth looking at places in Sun Prairie or Cottage Grove? How bad would the commute be to downtown? Also, to the west, we've heard Middleton is really nice but what about Verona or McFarland? Sorry for all the questions but really trying to narrow down our search area before going to look for housing. We'll only have a few days in Madison and want to focus on housing rather than spending all our time figuring out which areas to even look in. Thanks in advance for any help that can be provided!

[mommyntheoc]

Hi! We visited Madison for 5 days in April to find a place to live...we went ALL over and looked at houses ALL over...ended up LOVING the far southwest side. Verona is nice, more country style. Middleton is more new, I'd say going yuppie style. The northeast side was just bad, the only bad areas we saw in Madison...and grumpy people. The neighborhoods were run down and just not our cup of tea. Close to downtown was pretty cramped and I'd definitely recommend going out a quadrant or so...not the "near" sides. East side was older and more unique, West side was more polished in general...the south side was also not a very good area IMHO. The neighborhoods REALLY differ from street to street because they mix in all these low income with high income houses...it is all a tossed salad...what kind of housing are you wanting/ what is your style? I can probably help out a bit! The straight west side from the capital was pretty nice.

[Megan1967]

Now, that's interesting, Mommy-in-OC (have to change that name soon, huh? :>), most people consider the southwest side urban sprawl, soul-less and undesirable. Not that there aren't some nice houses there.

A fair chunk of people consider the near west and near east sides desirable. Not to be confused with campus proper. Few sane people want to live done there.

I guess it all depends on what you are looking for (and your price range). I LOVE older buildings (80+ years) that have been kept up.

Back to the original poster's questions. There are nice residential areas on the north side, but not all that great of rentals. Maple Bluff and Sherman Ave north or Wheeler Road are nice areas. Lots of low income housing in the rental areas.

At $1500 per month you can afford a very nice apartment, just about anywhere in the city. Downtown rentals tend to be higher so you'd get more for your money further out.

Sun Prairie has some nice apartments at very reasonable rates. Barrington Place (techinically still Madison, but just barely) is newer and has nice amenities.

Verona is very nice as is Middleton.

In my opinion McFarland is a little dreary and far away from everything except the Dane County Humane Society.

[mommyntheoc]

Tried to change the username...it's not allowed...you can only update your email addy or re-register :-/ unless you know a way, please share! :-D I'd love to change it.

We liked the older houses, but with young children, it's just not wise to go with the older houses with all of the lead and asbestos issues (lead in pipes, soil from leaded gasoline in years past, etc).

We did not like the near east and west sides lot sizes because we wanted a yard capable of having a garden AND playground - the houses are close together and much smaller the older they are and the closer to the capitol.

Also, if you are concerned about being near high pollution outputters...you need to check the EPA website for all of the large polluters in Madison. Most are on the east side and near Middleton, some are on the south side and very southwest...we wouldn't buy anything downwind or downstream from an EPA major polluter...so that basically took out all of the near west and near east sides due to the large power plant on the isthmus and pollution from UW (all listed on EPA.gov)

Anyone that would consider any part of Madison urban sprawl hasn't been to southern California...lol...Madison is a natural paradise compared to here! :-D So I would say each person's experience will influence their perceptions of desirable housing areas in Madison. Someone in an apartment with no yard and no kids may LOVE the near east or west sides, whereas someone with kids and pets may want a larger, newer home with a larger yard. If you are from the countryside, you'll probably not like any of Madison and want to move to the Verona outskirts instead. It all depends on who you are...and luckily, Madison seems to have an area for every type.

Before considering apartments, I'd look at duplexes in neighborhoods for lease by owner. It seems that EVERY neighborhood in Madison has duplexes mixed into it...so you could get lucky and have a yard, cheap rent, and a nice neighborhood! :-D Have you looked in the Greentree neighborhood off Frisch, Arden, & Chapel Hill? It's a good area to start looking at duplexes in.

[jcl1329]

Thanks to you both for your help. We just got back from Madison and still haven't signed a lease. We saw a house that we loved in Verona but my husband isn't sure about living out there. He seems to think it would be easier for him to get to the capital from the east side...is planning to take the bus and it looks like all the park and ride lots are on the east side. Any suggestions on how to get downtown from the west side without driving? We tried to find something closer to the city (near east/west) but as mommyntheoc said, we didn't like that many of the houses were so close together. I also thought about the issues with older houses as we do have a baby.

[jessysunshine]

I have been told Sun Prairie and DeForest are very nice towns...and not too far from Madison. We're looking at those places if my hubby gets a position at Truax Field.

[beetpapp]

Originally Posted by mommyntheoc

Someone in an apartment with no yard and no kids may LOVE the near east or west sides, whereas someone with kids and pets may want a larger, newer home with a larger yard.

I might have to disagree on this note..
We've rented a house in the Near West (neighborhood is the south side of Sunset Village). It's actually on a big lot on a beautiful tree-lined street. Includes a rather good-sized front yard, and large fenced back-yard. We don't have kids, but we do have a dog. Also, the previous tenants have 2 young kids and they like the house as well (and the park across the street w/ playground).

It's also ~1 mile to the arboretum & Monroe street area, only 3 miles to State, <4 miles to the Capital, and close to the bike path and a major bus line that will take you about anywhere, including State, the terrace, farmers market, capital, etc.

I wanted a house w/ yard and room - but still be close enough to ride my bike, take the bus, etc... and feel like I'm really in Madison. So it was a good choice for us.

[mommyntheoc]

Greentree neighborhood has plenty of affordable and nice houses, good lots, children, and the bike path runs to downtown from there...some cyclists on here might be able to tell you how long it takes? This is my hubby's plan for spring-fall days...apparently they even clear the bike paths of snow before roads in winter? LOL