What’s the best part of Madison?
It could be where everyone knows their neighbor. Or it could be where home prices are the highest, meaning it’s where everyone wants to live.
Instead of relying on public opinion and speculation, we wanted to get the facts straight and find out which neighborhoods in Madison are the best based on Saturday Night Science.
Whether you live in the sticks or in an apartment building downtown, you want a little pocket that you can call home. And each neighborhood offers different perks and benefits.
Smaller neighborhoods usually have obvious benefits — less crime, a slower pace of life, and a lower cost of living. But not all Madison neighborhoods are created equal. Some are better than others. But which ones?
If you’re thinking of moving to Wisconsin and Madison is on the top of your list, check out the best neighborhoods for 2024.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
So what’s the best neighborhood to live in Madison for 2024? According to the most recent census data, Westmorland looks to be the best Madison neighborhood to live in.
Read on to see how we determined the places around Madison that deserve a little bragging rights, or maybe you’re interested in the worst neighborhoods in Madison.
For more Wisconsin reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Wisconsin
- Cheapest Places To Live In Wisconsin
- Most Dangerous Cities In Wisconsin
The 10 Best Neighborhoods To Live In Madison
Population: 2,252
Median Home Value: $329,300 (17th best)
Median Income: $102,132 (14th best)
More on Westmorland: Data | Real Estate
Population: 6,221
Median Home Value: $474,740 (Second best)
Median Income: $81,822 (30th best)
More on Regent: Data | Real Estate
Population: 1,139
Median Home Value: $336,800 (15th best)
Median Income: $138,904 (Fourth best)
More on Country Grove: Data | Real Estate
Population: 2,898
Median Home Value: $423,567 (Fourth best)
Median Income: $110,367 (Eighth best)
More on Dudgeon-Monroe: Data | Real Estate
Population: 3,223
Median Home Value: $306,200 (22nd best)
Median Income: $106,276 (Tenth best)
More on Midvale Heights Community: Data | Real Estate
Population: 1,265
Median Home Value: $573,400 (best)
Median Income: $124,493 (Sixth best)
More on Blackhawk: Data | Real Estate
Population: 2,590
Median Home Value: $247,950 (45th best)
Median Income: $81,566 (3best)
More on Wexford: Data | Real Estate
Population: 674
Median Home Value: $358,200 (Tenth best)
Median Income: $101,008 (15th best)
More on Highlands Community: Data | Real Estate
Population: 1,778
Median Home Value: $273,700 (34th best)
Median Income: $77,938 (39th best)
More on Maple-Prairie: Data | Real Estate
Population: 1,738
Median Home Value: $421,750 (Fifth best)
Median Income: $128,683 (Fifth best)
More on Hawk’s Landing: Data | Real Estate
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Madison, WI Neighborhoods In 2024
To rank the best neighborhoods in Madison, we had to determine what criteria define “best” and then apply Saturday Night Science to it.
Using FBI crime, Census, and extrapolated BLS data, we arrived at the following set of criteria:
- High incomes
- Low unemployment rates
- Low crime
- High home prices
- High population densities (A proxy for things to do)
We then ranked each neighborhood with scores from 1 to 96 in each category, where 1 was the best.
Next, we averaged the rankings for each neighborhood to create a best neighborhood index.
And finally, we crowned the neighborhood with the lowest best neighborhood index, the “Best City Neighborhood In Madison.” We’re lookin’ at you, Westmorland.
Read on below to learn more about what it’s like to live in the best places Madison, Wisconsin has to offer. Or skip to the end to see the list of all the neighborhoods in the city, from best to worst.
We updated this article for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking the best neighborhoods to live in Madison.
Summary: Putting A Bow On Our Analysis Of The Best Neighborhoods In Madison
If you’re measuring the neighborhoods in Madison where crime is low and everyone wants to live, this is an accurate list.
The best neighborhoods in Madison are Westmorland, Regent, Country Grove, Dudgeon-Monroe, Midvale Heights Community, Blackhawk, Wexford, Highlands Community, Maple-Prairie, and Hawk’s Landing.
As mentioned earlier, the neighborhoods in Madison aren’t all good. Vera Court takes the title of the worst neighborhood to live in Madison.
The worst neighborhoods in Madison are Vera Court, Clarendon Hills, Mayfair Park, Bayview, and Sherman Terrace.
We ranked the neighborhoods from best to worst in the chart below.
For more Wisconsin reading, check out:
Best Neighborhoods To Live In Madison For 2024 Detailed Data
| Rank | Neighborhood | Population | Home Value | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Westmorland | 2,252 | $329,300 | $102,132 |
| 2 | Regent | 6,221 | $474,740 | $81,822 |
| 3 | Country Grove | 1,139 | $336,800 | $138,904 |
| 4 | Dudgeon-Monroe | 2,898 | $423,567 | $110,367 |
| 5 | Midvale Heights Community | 3,223 | $306,200 | $106,276 |
| 6 | Blackhawk | 1,265 | $573,400 | $124,493 |
| 7 | Wexford | 2,590 | $247,950 | $81,566 |
| 8 | Highlands Community | 674 | $358,200 | $101,008 |
| 9 | Maple-Prairie | 1,778 | $273,700 | $77,938 |
| 10 | Hawk’s Landing | 1,738 | $421,750 | $128,683 |
| 11 | Radio Park | 274 | $338,400 | $97,708 |
| 12 | Stonefield Woods-Ridge | 232 | $358,200 | $146,254 |
| 13 | Vilas | 2,690 | $393,950 | $66,756 |
| 14 | Glacier Ridge | 1,014 | $278,900 | $143,886 |
| 15 | Sunset Village | 1,770 | $317,767 | $84,373 |
| 16 | Nakoma League | 1,572 | $288,000 | $143,179 |
| 17 | Tenney-Lapham | 4,879 | $371,140 | $67,453 |
| 18 | Summit Woods | 537 | $288,000 | $105,845 |
| 19 | Glen Oak Hills | 728 | $291,900 | $100,197 |
| 20 | Mcclellan Park | 3,778 | $297,850 | $89,852 |
| 21 | Parkwood Hills | 1,647 | $209,700 | $110,640 |
| 22 | Wisconsin Co-Op Housing | 338 | $326,800 | $78,611 |
| 23 | Walnut Grove | 937 | $308,500 | $94,248 |
| 24 | Woodland Hills | 432 | $358,200 | $101,008 |
| 25 | Spring Harbor | 1,797 | $282,100 | $81,466 |
| 26 | Old Middleton Greenway | 665 | $350,350 | $83,362 |
| 27 | Hill Farms-University Neighborh | 3,267 | $274,000 | $73,024 |
| 28 | Reston Heights | 1,452 | $252,950 | $105,851 |
| 29 | Stone Meadows | 2,838 | $262,900 | $104,056 |
| 30 | Sauk Creek | 1,497 | $271,500 | $89,212 |
| 31 | Vanchamasshe | 139 | $338,400 | $97,708 |
| 32 | Schenk-Atwood | 4,789 | $272,680 | $81,000 |
| 33 | Faircrest | 1,245 | $268,250 | $80,758 |
| 34 | Sherman Village | 2,390 | $207,500 | $72,214 |
| 35 | Sunset Hills | 203 | $298,900 | $106,806 |
| 36 | Marquette | 5,461 | $298,833 | $71,139 |
| 37 | Greenbush | 2,818 | $334,900 | $59,184 |
| 38 | University Apartments | 840 | $412,500 | $40,139 |
| 39 | Oakbridge Community | 1,326 | $234,500 | $75,496 |
| 40 | North Lake Mendota | 677 | $269,300 | $71,875 |
| 41 | Bay Creek | 2,490 | $300,250 | $66,551 |
| 42 | Capitol | 31,387 | $428,850 | $39,062 |
| 43 | Heistand | 3,209 | $235,100 | $58,059 |
| 44 | Elvehjem | 3,357 | $224,850 | $78,383 |
| 45 | Westchester Gardens | 830 | $225,300 | $70,599 |
| 46 | Orchard Ridge Community | 3,327 | $255,225 | $56,321 |
| 47 | Heritage Heights | 2,180 | $198,267 | $76,411 |
| 48 | Schenk-Atwood-Starkweather-Yahar | 2,206 | $202,750 | $67,254 |
| 49 | Westhaven Trails | 1,524 | $236,650 | $87,812 |
| 50 | Meadowood | 2,734 | $238,200 | $68,768 |
| 51 | Skyview Meadows | 725 | $230,500 | $81,042 |
| 52 | Prairie Hills | 3,081 | $226,050 | $62,680 |
| 53 | Tamarack Trails Community | 361 | $308,500 | $94,248 |
| 54 | Greentree | 1,765 | $235,850 | $72,622 |
| 55 | Ridgewood | 2,651 | $233,200 | $53,236 |
| 56 | Waunona | 1,596 | $208,150 | $55,919 |
| 57 | Lake View Hill | 2,091 | $190,850 | $55,250 |
| 58 | East Buckeye | 506 | $254,600 | $97,778 |
| 59 | Glendale | 2,287 | $209,067 | $67,380 |
| 60 | Emerson East | 1,537 | $183,700 | $68,885 |
| 61 | Whitetail Ridge | 480 | $210,300 | $52,750 |
| 62 | Lerdahl Park | 154 | $269,300 | $71,875 |
| 63 | Sheridan Triangle | 377 | $190,600 | $46,466 |
| 64 | High Crossing | 551 | $209,450 | $86,672 |
| 65 | Lake Edge | 2,196 | $209,933 | $74,321 |
| 66 | Junction Ridge | 1,793 | $241,850 | $90,054 |
| 67 | Bluff Acres | 3,043 | $164,800 | $52,563 |
| 68 | Rolling Meadows | 2,046 | $197,850 | $74,734 |
| 69 | Allied Community | 4,480 | $167,900 | $37,268 |
| 70 | Moorland-Rimrock | 2,155 | $195,650 | $68,280 |
| 71 | Burr Oaks | 3,696 | $165,500 | $45,865 |
| 72 | High Point Estates | 1,056 | $268,233 | $80,900 |
| 73 | Indian Springs | 381 | $171,500 | $55,556 |
| 74 | Sherman | 2,875 | $175,967 | $54,565 |
| 75 | Brittingham Apartments | 45 | $292,100 | $23,235 |
| 76 | Brentwood Village | 1,034 | $190,600 | $46,466 |
| 77 | Carpenter-Ridgeway | 1,230 | $169,600 | $46,607 |
| 78 | Broadway-Lakepoint | 797 | $186,900 | $56,681 |
| 79 | East Bluff | 121 | $207,500 | $69,516 |
| 80 | Marbella | 145 | $208,100 | $64,310 |
| 81 | Eastmorland | 2,469 | $158,800 | $62,229 |
| 82 | Bram’s Addition | 1,539 | $180,100 | $33,788 |
| 83 | Park Ridge | 364 | $201,500 | $50,500 |
| 84 | Hawthorne | 1,244 | $171,700 | $52,579 |
| 85 | Leopold | 1,472 | $109,400 | $33,371 |
| 86 | Berkley Oaks | 1,063 | $110,500 | $41,699 |
| 87 | Worthington Park | 651 | $167,700 | $44,375 |
| 88 | Dunn’s Marsh | 1,260 | $166,300 | $30,342 |
| 89 | Eken Park | 2,111 | $174,950 | $42,750 |
| 90 | Norman Acres | 270 | $164,800 | $40,732 |
| 91 | Nobel Park | 653 | $174,200 | $40,985 |
| 92 | Sherman Terrace | 230 | $96,300 | $33,200 |
| 93 | Bayview | 118 | $209,300 | $26,429 |
| 94 | Mayfair Park | 842 | $199,750 | $44,282 |
| 95 | Clarendon Hills | 177 | $167,600 | $37,176 |
| 96 | Vera Court | 145 | $174,200 | $40,985 |