Better/Safer Area? (Madison, Algoma, Washington: apartments, crime, neighborhood)

[nina42]

I'm starting grad school at UW Madison this fall and I have been in town looking at apartments. I've narrowed it down to apartments that I really like that are in completely different areas of town. One is on Capitol View Terrace on the south side of town and the other on Algoma Street right behind Ella's Deli on Washington. Is anyone familiar with these areas? I am specifically interested in safety. I am a single woman and I plan on biking to campus when the weather is nice. So I want a place where I can feel safe even if I'm out alone after dark. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

[Megan1967]

Of the two, I'd choose the Algoma Street location.

[ranger17]

is one better for biking into the campus area? Capital View would likely have you biking down Park St, and Ella's Deli area down Johnson/Gorham. Both can be busy with traffic, i never biked them so cant say if one has better/safer lanes over the other but that may be a consideration

[argot]

The immediate area of Capitol View Terrace should be fine, but if you go a couple blocks west, it gets a little rougher. I don't know as much about the end of E. Johnson. A lot of young professionals and grad students live on E. Johnson and Gorham closer to the capitol, but I doubt there are many that far out. Of the two, I'd probably pick Algoma Street, but as an alumni, I would consider looking even closer to campus if at all possible... I'd think the added safety but especially the added convenience would make it more enjoyable for you. Almost anywhere between the Yahara River and campus would be good, and really I can't think of a seedy neighborhood anywhere west of campus within biking distance. Avoid the Park Street corridor south of St. Mary's, but that's about it.

[7G9C4J2]

While in general I like the neighborhood around Ella's Deli (I live about a mile away, in fact), I would note that there are a few patches here and there that can be sketchy at times. You'll want to avoid the immediate vicinity of the, ah, adult literature emporium at the corner of North Street and East Washington, for example.

Having said that, I'll also agree with other posters that I'd still probably opt for the Algoma Street location in preference to the south-side possibility. No place in the world is totally safe, but the area near Ella's is likely to be at least a little less iffy than the south side.

[Mark2]

I concur with the consensus, that Algoma may be better. I lived close to capitol years ago, and while it was not terrible, I would not go back willingly.

You can also gather your own, objective crime & safety info at sites like this: https://www.crimereports.com/