I'd like to know about Dane Country as the whole....not necessarily downtown. Could that make a difference?
Alison | Capitola, CA | Report Abuse

The downtown being so dangerous you can not go there is laughable. I am there right now; I can not think of a city its size with a safer/cleaner downtown.
Tom | Madison, WI | Report Abuse

Madison is OK, this is a mixed and nuanced review. The comment about downtown being a no-go zone is hogwash, it's among the more safe places I've seen in the world. There are some good restaurants/bars and Madison even has an orchestra and opera. It's a university town (I am a professor at UW) which sometimes feels like it has the cultural depth of a larger metropolitan area. I've lived here, off and on, for the past 20 years, and raised a family here. The schools are decent, not outstanding. That said, I am ready to depart, again. It's not a major metropolis: fine when you are younger and in family mode because life is comfortable but it's frankly quite boring as a mature adult. The dozen-or-so good/interesting restaurants get old after a year much less ten, and I have grown to detest the Limousine liberal mindset which unfortunately pervades the atmosphere here (I consider myself "a liberal", by the way). Just about every other weekend I am gone somewhere else because there are many other more interesting places to go. If you have to come here because of work, yeah sure it's a fine place, but I would not seek it out. Cost of living is not going to give you any good deals but it's not Los Angeles or Manhattan either. Alison from Capitola asks about Dane County in general. Yes, there are other places if you are not squeamish about driving 30 minutes: Fitchburg, Middleton, Stoughton. I moved 2 years ago from Madison near West side and now live in Waunakee about 10 miles to the North which suits me well because of my particular interests and, as I said, I am gone every ten days anyway.
Kael | Waunakee, WI | Report Abuse

Would you mind sharing your age/race/ education and housing expense
Karise | Tulsa, OK | Report Abuse

I can totally relate to many things you listed. Round Rock, (Austin, TX) had similar great points such as Madison and now it is changing a lot and fast! Do you know of other cities in the U. S. similar to the way Madison used to be?
laura | Round Rock, TX | Report Abuse

Formerly fantastic, presently bleak - you are completely wrong and I had to laugh out loud about your description of the city! Dangerous and violent?? Okay, anyone reading this, the city is the COMPLETE opposite. I have lived in and around Madison for over twenty five years. This person sounds like they watch way too much FOXNEWS. Your description of Madison is a joke and makes you look like a complete delusional fear-mongering foul. Madison is a lovely city with very low crime. And, people going unchecked for their crimes, please -QAnon supporter, please move along. Your rhetoric is pathetic!
RMia | Chattanooga, TN | Report Abuse