Aerial Monona Terrace

Photo by Cassius Callender

Best Places to Live

Madison is consistently named one of the best places to live.

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Rankings and Accolades 

What does one of the world’s happiest cities look like? One of America’s fittest, most walkable, and best places to live? A place for business and pleasure? It looks like Madison, Wisconsin. See where we rank.

LEADERS IN SUSTAINABILITY

#8 Greenest City in the US
EcoCation (2024)

#15 Most Green City in the US
WalletHub (2024)

The 25 Greenest Cities in the US
The Discoverer (2022)

#4 Greenest Cities in the US
zippia.com (2020)

TOP CHEFS & CULINARY CULTURE

#8 Best Beer Festivals
USA Today 10Best (2023)

Top 5 Best Drinking Cities in the World
Punch (2023)

#5 Best Gluten Free Beer
USA Today 10Best (2023)

#2 Best Cities for Cheese Lovers
Money Talks News (2023)

#2 Best Cities for Cheese Lovers
Lawn Starter (2023)

#74 Best Foodie Cities in America
WalletHub (2023)

#7 America's Best Cities for Cheese Lovers
The Populist (2022)

16 Best Veggie Burgers in America
Tasting Table (2022)

#1 Best U.S. Cities for Living Sober
allsober.com (2022)

HEALTH & WELLNESS-WORTHY

World's Best Cities: Wellness
National Geographic (2024)

#5 Fittest City in the US
American Fitness Index (2024)

#8 Best City for an Active Lifestyle
WalletHub (2024)

#5 Best Place in the US for Allergy Sufferers
WTOP News (2023)

#20 Most Active Cities in the Country
USA Today (2021)

Gold Rated for Walkability
Walk Friendly Communities (2021)

#5 Fittest Cities in the US
Men's Health (2021)

#18 Mental Healthiest Cities in the US
Men’s Health (2021)

#4 Happiest Cities in America
thrillist.com (2021)

#9 Best Cities for Runners
smartasset.com (2020)

PERFECT PLACE TO LIVE

#2 Best State Capitals for Safety
WalletHub (2024)

#6 Best Places to Live in the US for Quality of Life
U.S. News & World Report (2024-25)

#1 Most Courteous City in Each State
msn.com (2024)

#7 Best Cities for Singles
Time Out (2024)

#8 Best Cities for Singles
WalletHub (2024)

#2 in US for Pedestrian Safety
Smart Growth American + National Complete Streets Coalition (2024)

#4 Happiest Cities in America
WalletHub (2024)

#15 Best Places to Retire
WalletHub (2024)

#1 College Town to Live in After Graduation
Livability (2024)

#5 Best City for College Grads
Apartment Advisor (2024)

#16 Best City for Keeping Your New Year's Resolutions
WalletHub (2024)

Best Mid-Size Town
Midwest Living (2023)

15 Happiest Places to Live in the US
Outside (2023)

#1 Most Neighborly City
NeighborBlog (2023)

#1 Best Places to Live in the US
Livability.com (2022)

#11 in 30 Most Beautiful Cities in the US
Forbes (2022)

Top 8 Little Cities that Think Big
AFAR (2022)

#40 Best Places to Live
Money (2022)

#22 Best American Cities to Live The Good Life in Retirement
The Street (2022)

#6 Best Cities for Single Moms
Lawn Starter (2022)

#15 Best Places to Live in the US
CBS News (2022)

#1 Best Places to Live in the US
Livability.com (2021)

SWEET SPOT FOR SPORTS

Best College Towns in America
The Points Guy (2022)

#1 Best College Football Town in America
si.com (August 2019)

#4 Sportiest City in the US
Men's Health (September 2017)

BEST IN BUSINESS

Top 20 US Cities for Remote and On-Site Work
Commercial Search (2024)

#9 Best Cities for STEM Jobs
WalletHub (2024)

#4 Best City for Work/Life Balance & Mental Health
CoworkingCafe (2024)

#27 Top US Cities for Representation of Women in STEM
CommercialCafe (2023)

#7 Best Cities for Young Professionals
SmartAsset (2022)

EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION, ARTS & ARCHITECTURE

#13 Among US Public Universities (UW-Madison)
U.S. News & World Report (2025)

#39 in National Universities (UW-Madison)
U.S. News & World Report (2025)

#5 Most Educated City in America
WalletHub (2024)

Great American Cities for Creatives (That You Can Actually Afford)
Thrillist (2022)

FABULOUS FOR FAMILIES

#5 Top US Cities for Families
Study Finds (2024)

#10 Most Pet Friendly City in America
Travel + Leisure (2022)

#8 Best Cities for Families to Live In
Bankrate (2022)

#1 Best Places in the US for Raising Children
diversitydatakids.com (January 2020)

MORE TO LOVE ABOUT MADISON

Coolest Cities to Visit in Each State
The Discoverer (2023)

#7 Coziest Frozen Lake Towns
Fodors (2023)

Best Cities for Veterans
Lawn Starter (2023)

 

More Things To Do

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Things To Do in Winter

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Things To Do in Fall

Stunning colors. Crisp air. Warm beverages. Corn mazes and pumpkins. Fall is an undeniably special...

Summer Things to Do

Check out our list of 99 summer activities and then book your trip.

Holidays

Think Madison’s sparkling lakes are gorgeous in the summertime – just wait for the...

Outdoors & Recreation

Why is Madison a haven for outdoors and recreation enthusiasts? Skiing and skating. More than 260...

Arts & Culture

Love the arts? Looking for a vibrant culture? Madison is the city for you. Come find your...

Attractions

Whether you're here to visit the State Capitol or spend time on our lakes, Madison is a...

Bars & Nightlife

From outdoor patio seating to enjoying nightly live entertainment, you'll enjoy vibrant bars and...

Free Things to Do

From stunning lakes to one of the nation's best free zoos, there's an abundance of free...

Shopping

From shops that line State Street's pedestrian mall to neighborhoods known for specialty stores,...

Things to Do With Kids

There's no shortage of things to do with kids in Madison. From a quirky children's museum to...

Spas & Wellness

Whether relaxing at some of Madison's best spas or just searching for overall wellness, it's...

Colleges & Universities

Madison's a progressive city with highly-acclaimed colleges and universities that attract...

Local Sports

Badgers, Mallards, Flamingos. Oh my! Madison's vibrant local sports scene features college and...

Essential Madison Experiences

Essential Madison Experiences are your guide to unforgettable times. Taste, explore and learn about...