Pros and Cons of Indianapolis? Indianapolis or Madison?

[kpl1228]

Originally Posted by kwk337

I've lived in both Indianapolis and Madison for a stretch. There's things about both cities that I like and dislike. But overall I can't think of much that Indianapolis has to offer that Madison can't beat, except that springtime gets to Indiana a little sooner.

While I think Indy gets a bad rap, overall it's true, you'd have to deal with a lot more crap in Indianapolis. All depends on what side of Indy you live on, really, and what you're looking for.

Madison is going to be very white-bred, far more so than Indy. But that might not be a factor for you.

The suburbs around Indy are very cookie-cutter. Culturally, the city overall is a city of "squares". Not a lot of intellectuals around Indy compared to Madison. Hoosier conversation tends toward team sports and the weather, but apart from the hippie community up in Madison (a very politicized, activist community) it's really not much different in Wisconsin. I expected people in Madison to be more interesting than folks here in central Indiana, but people in general are pretty conventional. Madison is far from perfect, but I'd still probably choose it over Indianapolis.

Weather is a b*tch wherever you go in this country, I wouldn't let that faze me. Plenty of compensations. I think winter sports are a blast. Wisconsin (in spite of the harder winters) is still a very outdoorsy state. Indiana less so. Scenically, Indiana is seriously underrated. Lot of beauty around here once you get out of the 'burbs and off the dead zone of the interstate. But southern Wisconsin has few equals.

People in Indianapolis are extremely nice, but overall, I think this city is still pretty backwards. It's really improved over the last 20 years, but still has a long way to go. Then again, Madison was never an industrial city like Indianapolis, so it hasn't had to deal with the Rust Belt stigma. If Indianapolis had a really outstanding university like Madison does, things would be different here. As it is, once you get away from the Northside and a few interesting pockets within the city, Indy feels like a big transportation facility to me.

A great post. ^
Madison is also quite like Austin, in Texas. A capital with a flagship college, creating a more intellectual and bohemian atmosphere, that much of the rest of the state kind of chuckles at or hates or resents (at worst) or admires or visits or is proud of (at best). Though Wisconsin is no Texas in mindset.
Indy is a big city also, more diverse (though the college at Madison certainly has diverse populations within its faculty)and not that political, despite the conservative square image and history. Madison is much more activist, vocal. Again, that big excellent college is the difference-maker.
Kind of like comparing Madison to, say Milwaukee. I would argue that although Madison is a smaller place than Indy, it is also cosmopolitan. And except for pro sports and a auto race, you can get the same big-city amenities from Madison as you would Indy.