African american family moving to Madison (Milwaukee, Green Bay: low income, rentals, crime)

[lovely3g]

I have been searching the forums about life in Madison and can't seem to find what i'm looking for so please forgive me if I'm repeating questions. I am Cardiovascular Surgical Technologist and am looking to move in the very near future. We are a young African American family with two kids in elementary and one who will be in high school next year. By research and looking on forums the schools in Madison seem to be great. I am interested in finding more about the hospitals, cost of living,(would like to rent a 3 bdrm at first), and diversity. I currently live in Kenosha,Wi and grew up in Green Bay but would like to move somewhere with a bit more diversity. We love the nitelife also so good jazz and R&b spots would be ideal.

[Megan1967]

Welcome!

I shuddered when you asked about diversity as this is always a hot button topic on this forum. It could totally derail your thread. Rather than answer your other questions, everyone will fight over whether Madison is diverse or not.....

Compared to everywhere else in the state, except Milwaukee, it is diverse, but ethnically, it is still a primarily an white community. Being capital and having the university here helps in that department as they attract people from all over the country.

The cool thing is that it is very diverse economically and people of all socio-economic classes live side by side in many areas. We do have some areas that have a high concentration of low income families, but you will find that there is a lot of planned integration. There is often subsidized housing next to $300,000+ homes.

Jazz places... I've never been to Lilianna's in Fitchburg, but they have Jazz performers every week. There is a Madison Jazz Society that holds the Capital City Jazz Fest (2010 it's in April) and their site has other events listed as well: Madison Jazz Society

For renting, where do you want to live? As a rule the west side is more expensive than the east, but there are some exceptions.

For High Schools - West is the one that most consistently ranks the highest by many measures. I say that objectively as I don't live anywhere near it and grew up elsewhere. I really like John Muir for grade schools, I did my librarian practicum there, but it is in the Memorial HS attendance area. Not that Memorial is a bad high school; it just not West.

[pinkgonegreen]

I'd just like to say that coming from southern CA, I've found Madison to be the most ethnically diverse city in the midwest where people seem to get along without any racial issues side-by-side.

As far as good jazz spots, I've heard of a couple downtown but not too many - it seems they value beer over culture here, but just an observation - would LOVE to be corrected on that one :-)

Not sure about rentals but 3 bedroom houses run around $190k in nice neighborhoods...I'm not sure if I'd waste money on renting, we didn't.

The hospitals seem to have many satisfied patients and most people seem happy with their care here.

Overall, I feel like I entered a pleasantville of sorts compared to everywhere else I've been...I mean, the evening news starts out with high school football scores rather than gunshots and rapes...I don't think people who are from here realize how lucky they are. :-)

[gold*dust1]

Originally Posted by mommyntheoc

I don't think people who are from here realize how lucky they are. :-)

Well you can't lump us (Madisonians) all together. I don't think the average Californian is dodging bullets everyday. I lived there, I know, and the pm news was just as pleasant, plus I had access to some of the best big stations. I was never the victim of a crime in the 11 years I lived in CA and I can't say the same for Madison WI.

[Nonesuch]

Crime in the "big cities" not nearly as bad as the evening news makes it appear; I lived in Chicago for two decades, and only got shot at once

Originally Posted by mommyntheoc

Not sure about rentals but 3 bedroom houses run around $190k in nice neighborhoods...I'm not sure if I'd waste money on renting, we didn't.

I agree -- with prices so low here, there's very little incentive not to buy assuming you are planning to stick around for more than a couple of years.

Compared to anywhere else I've been in the USA, Madison is not particularly ethnically or politically diverse. I do agree that the city is "very diverse economically", but not the culture, restaurants, etc.