A Local Expert's Ultimate Guide to 10 Budget-Friendly Neighborhoods to Rent in Madison
I’m Mike, your ApartmentHomeLiving.com local expert for Madison, Wisconsin. I lived and worked in Madison for several years before career opportunities took me elsewhere. Madison is a terrific all-seasons city with Lake Mendota directly to the northwest and Lake Monona directly southwest of the city.
Madison is the state capital and home to the University of Wisconsin’s main campus. Madison residents generally love the fall weather there because we get lots of great color and have the excitement of Big Ten college football on weekends, along with so many other activities. Madison is a pedestrian-friendly city, too, so we always feel comfortable and safe riding bicycles, jogging, or walking during good weather.
If you are considering a move to Madison or already live there and want to find a more affordable place to rent, here is a look at 10 of the most affordable neighborhoods for you to consider.
West Madison Offers Space and Lots of Green Space
The West Madison neighborhood is great for finding affordable rentals that don’t make you feel like you are living inside a shoe box stacked one on top of another. Many older homes have been converted into terrific apartment spaces. The neighborhood also has lots of duplexes and quad housing units that are in good shape and very affordable.
The West Towne Mall and Elver Park are just a couple of minutes away by car. The neighborhood is located close to the U.S. 14 and U.S. 18 highways, which makes it easy to get around.
Orchard Ridge Has Affordable Upscale Living
The Orchard Ridge neighborhood is located southwest of Downtown Madison and in a relatively newer development area when compared to the heart of Wisconsin’s capital city. It’s situated just west of Route 14 and very near to Route 18, so it’s very quick and easy to get to where you need to go for work, school, or when running errands.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum is nearby, which is a great place to enjoy walking, jogging, biking, picnicking, and taking in the great outdoors. It’s especially colorful during the fall, and snowy winters give it a very beautiful veil of snow.
Glen Oak Hills Has Ample Recreational Opportunities
Glen Oak Hills occupies a relatively square area of Madison that is close to the southern shore of Lake Mendota. It also is due west of historic Camp Randall Stadium, which is great for those who love college football and tailgating.
The neighborhood is about a 10-minute drive from Downtown and the Wisconsin Capitol Building. It’s a great place to live if you enjoy swimming or fishing on Lake Mendota and other nearby bodies of water.
Midvale Heights Has Ample Green Space
Midvale Heights is situated north of Route 14 and bordered by S. Whitney Way to the west, Mineral Point Road to the north, and S. Midvale Blvd. to the east.
The neighborhood is another that’s popular with university students and locals alike due to its many green spaces, including several parks within the neighborhood and others nearby. Route 14 and Route 18 are easy to access, which makes it easy to get where you are going.
Sherman Terrace Delivers Historic Charm
If you like older neighborhoods and close proximity to a body of water as large as Lake Mendota, you will love the Sherman Terrace neighborhood. It’s a small community located near the eastern shore of Lake Mendota and the canal connecting it with Lake Monona. The neighborhood has many parks located nearby, including Tenney Park just south of it and Filene Park on the shore of Lake Mendota.
Sherman Terrace is situated on the northwestern part of the isthmus separating Lakes Mendota and Monona and is very close to Route 151. It’s a great location for those who might work at or near the Capitol.
Meadowood Gives Renters a Sense of Community
Meadowood is just 6 miles from Downtown Madison and is located in a suburban setting with lots of single-family homes and parks to support the neighborhood. It’s a clean community that has good schools, relatively low crime, and plenty of good parks for outdoor recreation.
State Langdon Has Easy Access to Madison Activities
Madison’s State Langdon neighborhood is one of my favorite residential areas in the city. It is located on the southeastern shore of Lake Mendota and very close to Downtown and the Capitol. You can ride your bike to both in good weather.
Several great museums are within walking and biking distance, and the city’s best restaurants and hot spots are just minutes away by car.
Greentree Supports Outdoor Recreation
Greentree is a rectangular community located very close to Route 14 in southwestern Madison. Greentree Chapel Hills Park is my favorite feature of this neighborhood and runs nearly its entire length from north to south in the very western end. Elver Park is just on the other side of McKenna Blvd., and the Madison Ice Arena is situated a short distance north of Greentree.
There’s plenty to do here, and local roads make it easy to get into and around Madison as needed.
Old Market Place Puts You in the Heart of Madison
Madison consistently ranks among the nicest cities in which to live in the entire country, and Old Market Place puts you right in the middle of all that makes Madison so great. It is situated on the southeastern shore of Lake Mendota and really close to the Capitol and all the great restaurants and night spots that surround it.
James Madison Park runs the entire length of the shoreline, so there are plenty of swimming, kayaking, canoeing, and fishing opportunities here. Route 151 borders part of the neighborhood to the southeast, which makes it easy to go places.
Orchard Ridge Is at the Crossroads of Madison
I always viewed the U.S. 14 and Route 18 interchange in southwestern Madison as the city’s crossroads. They make it possible to get just about anywhere in or near Madison in only a few minutes. The Orchard Ridge neighborhood is shaped kind of like an arrowhead aimed at the interchange with Route 14 to the north and Route 18 to the east.
The neighborhood includes several excellent parks and golfing opportunities for those who enjoy playing nine or 18 holes in their free time.
