Rankings

Madison, Wisconsin consistently ranks as a top community in which to live, work, play, and raise a family. This Midwestern getaway is also growing in recognition as a premier meeting and convention destination. Read on to discover which lists we've topped and why--from being the best in business to creating phenomenal food--and countless criteria in between.

 

Growing Recognition for Going Green

Madison Named Best Green Town in Wisconsin's 12 Best Towns
Wisconsin Trails, 2013  

10 great places to blaze a (bike) trail of good food
USAToday.com, September 2012

Madison Ranked #6 Bike-Friendly City
Bicycling Magazine, June 2012

Madison ranked in Top 12 for Water Conservation
Wyland Foundation, May 2012

Madison in Top Ten for Greatest Cycling Cities
USA Today, 2011

Madison Ranked 43rd for Providing 'Green' Jobs
Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program, July 2011

Madison Named Best Green Town
Wisconsin Trails, May/June 2011

Dane County Farmer's Market #1
The Huffington Post, July 24, 2009

 

A Happening Place to Be Healthy

#14 Best Half Marathon in the U.S.
Runner's World Magazine, February 2013

Madison ranked as one of 10 great places to try stand-up paddle boarding
USA Today, August 2012

Madison Ranked 5th most Bikeable City
Walkscore, May 2012

#4 in Best Cities for Health Care
The Daily Beast, January 2011

Best City for Men, 2011
Men's Health, December 2010

University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics #5 in adult specialties
U.S. News, April 2010

Madison Rated #7 Most Bike-Friendly City in America
Bicycling Magazine, April 2010

Madison 8th Healthiest Place for Women
Self Magazine, October 2009

Madison 13th Best Place to Live
Triathlete Magazine, September, 2009

 

Perfect Place to Live

A Best Place to Retire
Huffington Post, April 2013

One of "5 Happiest Cities in America"
AARP, August 2012

Best College Game Day Tradition
Sports Illustrated, November 2012

Madison Ranked One of 10 Best Cities for Men
Men's Health, September 2012

Madison Ranked 15th Best Place to Live in the Future
WTAQ Radio, August 2012

Allstate's Safest Places to Drive
Washington Post, August 2012

Great Place to Raise a Family
MSN, August 2012

Madison Ranked #1 "Best City for Young Adults"
Kiplinger, July 2012

Madison Ranked #4 Brainiest City
Atlantic Cities, June 2012

Madison Ranked 3rd Best-Run City
24/7 Wall St., January 2012

Madison ranked 8th Best Music Scene
Livability.com, March 2012

State Street Ranked in Top Eight Shopping Districts in America
MSN, January 2012

Madison has 6th Most Dog Parks
USA Today, December 2011

Madison in Top 5 U.S. Cities for Winter Biking
Metaefficient, November 2011

Madison Ranked 10th Best Town to Live
Outside Magazine, October 2011

Madison Ranked Most Educated City in America
Men's Health Magazine, September 2011

Middleton Ranked 8th Best Place to Live
Money Magazine, September 2011

Madison Named 3rd Best City for Young Professionals
Forbes, July 2011

Madison Named City with Best Job Market
Portfolio.com, July 2011

Madison Ranked 6th Best City for Families
Parenting.com, June 2011

Madison Ranked 6th Best College Town in Renter Satisfaction
Apartment Ratings, May 2011

Madison Ranked 15th Most Socially Networked City in the US
Men's Health, March 2011

Madison Ranked in Top Ten for America's Best Getaway Cities
NYDailyNews.com, March 2011

Madison Ranked Best City for an Active Retirement
Forbes Magazine, February 2011

Madison Ranked Most Secure Place to Live in America
Farmers Insurance Group of Companies, December 2010

Madison Ranked #7 in Best Places for Military Retirement
USAA / Military.com, December 2010

Madison Ranked 7th Best City to Relocate to in America
CNBC.com, October 2010

Madison Ranked #3 in Most Secure US Places
AOL Real Estate, October 2010

Madison #4 in Top 10 Midsize US Metro Areas for Quality of Life
Portfolio.com, June 2010

UW-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health ranked Top 20 for "Social Mission"
School of Medicine and Public Health, June 2010

Madison #7 Among Innovative Cities Nationwide
Forbes.com, June 2010

Madison 2nd Best City for College Grads
The Daily Beast.com, May 2010

Madison 5th Gayest City in America
The Advocate, February 2010

Madison #26 in Top 50 Most Charitable Cities
Men's Health, November 2009

America's Best Adventure Towns
National Geographic, October 2009

The Top Ten Places to Buy a Home
ABC News, August 2009

University of Wisconsin-Madison graduate programs are ranked among the nation's best
U.S. News & World Report summarized by UW-Madison News, April 2009

"Most Unique American Cities & Towns"
Newsmax Magazine, April 2009

Madison Gay Hockey Association named Outsports' top gay sports group
Outsports.com, April 2009

 

Best in Business

Madison Ranks 5^th for High Tech Jobs
MarketWatch, June 2013

The Best U.S. Cities for Working Women
Co.EXIST, May 2013

Top 7 Cities for Last-Minute Meetings
Smart Meetings, May 2013

Madison ranked 2nd best-run city in America
24/7 Wall St., January 2013

Madison Ranked #2 Best Small Metro College Town
AIER.org, October 2012

Madison Ranked #19 Creative Class Metro City
Atlantic Cities Magazine, July 2012

Madison Ranked as the City with the 3rd-Highest Credit Score in America
Experian, October 2011

Madison Ranked Best City for Educated Workers
Huffington Post, September 2011

Madison Named America's 14th Most Recession-Proof City
CNNMoney.com, September 2010

Top Ten Most Innovative Cities
Forbes, May 2010

Madison #60 in Best Places For Business and Careers
Forbes Magazine, April 2010

Top ten most important research advances in cardiovascular disease and stroke
American Heart Association, January 2010

Madison #20 Best Place to Launch a Business
CNN Money, January 2010

Cities with the Best Mix of Opportunities for New Grads
Forbes, August 4, 2009

Madison #7 Best City to Live and Work
Kipingler, May 27, 2009

#2 Best Places to Find a Job
Money Magazine, April 2009

 

Fabulous for Families

#8 Best City to Raise a Family
Parenting Magazine, July 2012

Madison Children's Museum Ranked 5th-Best Children's Museum in the Nation
Parents Magazine, February 2011

Safest City in America for Kids
Men's Health, August 2010

3rd Best City for Families 2010
Parenting.com, July 2010

#2 in Top 100 Best Places to Raise a Family
Children's Health, September 2009
Today Show Video, October 2009

 

Phenomenal at Food

Madison Named Best Foodie Town in Wisconsin's 12 Best Towns
Wisconsin Trails, 2013

#5 Top Foodie Cities in 2013
Livability.com, April 2013

Best American Beer Fest
Esquire Magazine, August 2011

Madison in Top 12 for Best Farmers' Markets
Delish.com, May 2011

Madison named one of Top 12 Best Local Farmers' Markets in America
Delish.com, October 2010

Harvest recognized by James Beard Foundation
Harvest Restaurant, January 2010

Madison's #1 Best Midwest Food Town
Midwest Living Magazine, April 22, 2009

 

Nods to our Neighbors

Middleton Rated #4 Best Places to Live
CNN Money's list of America's best small towns, August 2009