100 Best Apartments in Madison, WI (with reviews)

Q: What are the best apartments in Madison, WI?

The best apartments in Madison, WI are: Preserve West , Cardinal Apartments , The Outlook at 1000 Oaks , Hawks Ridge and The Surf .

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Average rent in Madison, WI

$1,491/mo Madison, WI average rental price, October 2022

The average monthly rent of apartments in Madison, WI is $1,491.

Madison, WI apartment rent ranges

About 22% of apartment rents in Madison, WI range between $1,501-$2,000. Meanwhile, apartments priced over > $2,000 represent 12% of apartments. Around 48% of Madison’s apartments are in the $1,001-$1,500 price range. 17% of apartments are priced between $701-$1,000.

Madison, WI rent trends

Check out the average rent prices in Madison by neighborhood.

Compared to the national average rent of $1,727, the average rent in Madison, WI is $1,491.

Getting around in Madison, WI

74 /100

Very Walkable

44 /100

Some Transit

85 /100

Very Bikeable

Walk Score®: 74, Transit Score®: 44, Bike Score®: 85

Frequently asked questions

When were prices and availability in Madison, WI last updated?

Prices and availability in Madison, WI were last updated on 6 Feb 2023.

What are the best apartments in Madison, WI?

The best apartments in Madison, WI are: Preserve West, Cardinal Apartments, The Outlook at 1000 Oaks, Hawks Ridge and The Surf.

What is the average rent in Madison, WI?

The average rent in Madison, WI is $1,491. Start your search for apartments in Madison, WI now.

What is the price range for a studio apartment in Madison, WI?

The price range for a studio apartment in Madison, WI is between $265 and $2,795. View all studio apartments in Madison, WI.

What is the price range for a 1-bedroom apartment in Madison, WI?

The price range for a 1-bedroom apartment in Madison, WI is between $265 and $3,470. Browse all available 1-bedroom apartments in Madison, WI now.

What is the price range for a 2-bedroom apartment in Madison, WI?

The price range for a 2-bedroom apartment in Madison, WI is between $650 and $3,715. Browse and find a 2-bedroom apartment in Madison, WI.

What is the price range for a 3-bedroom apartment in Madison, WI?

The price range for a 3-bedroom apartment in Madison, WI is between $875 and $4,105. Browse all available 3-bedroom apartments in Madison, WI.

What type of rental buildings are in Madison, WI?

In Madison 52% of the housing is rented out compared to 48% of homes are owned, according to the most recent Census Bureau estimates. 22% of Madison’s apartments are found in large buildings of 50 units or more, 69% are located in smaller apartment complexes with less than 50 units, and 9% are single-family rentals.

What do typical apartment communities look like in Madison, WI?

The average age of rental buildings in Madison is 32 years old, with 41% being newer apartment buildings completed since 2000. The average height of apartment buildings in the city is 4 stories, of which 73% are garden-style apartment communities, 22% are mid-sized buildings, and 5% are high-rises. These characteristics describe large-scale apartment communities of 50 apartments or more.

What apartment floorplans are common in Madison, WI?

Studio apartments in Madison are around 8% of rentals, while 1-bedroom floor plans represent 44% of the total stock. For those in search of larger rentals, 2-bedroom floorplans make up 39% of all rentals. More generous apartments with 3 bedrooms or more are also available in this city for those in search of more space.

Madison, WI in the news

Welcome to the Midwest: 2022's Best Metros Where Renters Can Save Fastest for Their First Home

Expensive houses — but a high savings rate of 21% — make this Wisconsin metro worth considering. In fact, Madison, is said to be one of the most “quintessentially American cities” and has a vibrant cultural life. The acclaimed University of Wisconsin - Madison is one of the top employers in the region. The metro is also steadily growing and attracting residents and professionals in the health-care, information technology and manufacturing industries.

Class of 2021, These Are the Hottest Jobs for Your and the Best Metros to Find Them

Among the best metros for graduates is Madison, WI. Home to the University of Wisconsin and an emerging tech hub, Madison is a great option for computer, management and marketing professionals as well as industrial engineers. When it comes to the highest concentration of jobs for recent college graduates, Madison is also on top - 89 of out of 1,000 jobs here are grad-friendly.

Renter's guide to Madison, WI

Madison, Wisconsin is a city filled with Midwestern charm. It's a place where you can instantly feel at home, especially if you love the outdoors, sports, and cold beer—because Madison, WI has no shortage of those three.

Madison ranks within the top 10 of US cities for healthy and active lifestyles, including swimming, biking, and parks. But it also rates highly for economic growth and STEM professionals. That makes Madison a great place to flatten your abs while fattening your wallet.

Madison is only 74 miles from Milwaukee and 147 miles from Chicago, a short road trip away. Green Bay, the home of the iconic Packers football team, is somewhere in between—at 135 miles from Madison.

Madison is a fairly small city. At 94 square miles, it's roughly the same size as Milwaukee, but only 40% the size of Chicago.

If you're the type of person who enjoys distinct seasons, Madison may be right up your alley. The weather in Madison is a tale of two extremes, with winter temperatures that regularly drop below freezing, often as low as 0ºF. Meanwhile, summers are warm and humid, regularly pushing into the 80s and sometimes even into the 90s.

Tips for renting in Madison, WI

It's helpful to know what you're getting into before you decide to rent a place in a new city, so here are a few tips to keep you covered.

When you first move in, you have 7 days to inform the landlord of any pre-existing problems or damages in the residence. There is no limit on how much landlords can charge for security deposits, but there is a 21-day deadline for your deposit to be returned after you move out.

If the landlord feels you broke the lease, whether through a failure to pay rent or anything else, you'll be given a 5, 14, or 30 day eviction notice. During that time, you can either resolve the case with the landlord, or wait until it goes to court and make your arguments there.

Madison, WI demographics

258,366Total Population
130,484 Female

127,882 Male
31.2Median Age

Madison, WI has a population of 258,366 according to the most recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau. 130,484 of Madison’s residents are women and 127,882 are men. The median age of those who live in Madison, WI is 31.2.

Living in Madison, WI

Even as a relatively small city, Madison has plenty of things going for it. It's fairly inexpensive, while being home to some great food and beer. And it's surrounded by lakes, which is a real plus for any nature loves.

On the other hand, winters in Madison are brutally cold, and it does lack some of the entertainment options of a bigger city.

The city has a predominantly white population, with roughly 15% split evenly between Asian and African-American inhabitants.

Madison, WI households

50,623 Family

61,209 Non-family
23,567 Children

88,265 No Children

111,832Total Number of Households
2.2Average People Per Household
$67,565Median Household Income

According to U.S. Census data, there are 111,832 households in Madison, WI. 50,623 are family households and 61,209 are non-family households. There are 23,567 households with children in Madison and 88,265 households without children. On average, about 2.2 people live in a household in Madison, WI.

Things to do in Madison, WI

What exactly is there to do in a city like Madison? Plenty.

Madison is also known as “The City of Four Lakes”, which refers to Lake Kegonsa, Lake Waubesa, Lake Monona, and Lake Mendota. There's even a fifth lake, Lake Wingra.

That means there are plenty of fishing, boating, and camping options nearby—in the warmer months, at least. During the colder months, there are plenty of winter sports options around the city too, like skiing, ice skating, and more.

Did we mention the Olbrich Botanical Gardens? It’s a can't miss for any nature lover.

Or if you're looking for something a little more cultural, there's the annual Art Fair on the Square or the Chazen Museum of Art. Even though it's a typical Midwestern city in many ways, Madison is definitely the most progressive and liberal city in Wisconsin.

For shopping, there's the very popular Madison Farmer's Market, where you can buy fresh produce straight from the source. And for your other shopping needs, you can check out the West Towne Mall or the Hilldale Shopping Center.

When it comes to food, Madison is known for its cheese, its beer, and its bratwurst. After taking one of the local food tours, you'll understand why.

But no Madison, WI guide would be complete without talking about the sports. Not only is the city very accessible to Milwaukee, Green Bay, and Chicago, where you can find some of the best professional football, basketball, baseball, and hockey teams in the country, Madison is also home of the University of Wisconsin's athletic teams.

That means some of the best college basketball, hockey, and football you can find anywhere. UW's hockey team has more titles than almost any team in the country, and their men's basketball team has made it deep into the NCAA tournament three years in a row.

Madison, WI employment & economy

Madison's biggest industry is manufacturing, though there are still plenty of options in agriculture, healthcare, tech, service, and government.

Some of the city's biggest employers include John Deere & Co., Kraft Foods, Lands' End, and the Madison-based Sony Creative Software.

Education in Madison, WI

Madison ranks among the best cities in the country for education, with more college degrees and PhDs per capita than almost anywhere in the United States.

The city is home to the Madison campus of the University of Wisconsin, one of America's largest universities.

Madison, WI education statistics

The level of education of the population of Madison, WI is as follows: 2% have no high school education, 19% completed some high school, 19% partially completed college, 7% have an Associate Degree, 32% have a Bachelor Degree, and 22% have a Graduate Degree.

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Whether you're looking for a studio, an apartment with one or more bedrooms, or maybe you're upgrading to a luxury apartment or need to acommodate a pet, RentCafe allows you to easily search for a rental near you based on your criteria, anywhere in the U.S. So, let's find your new home today!

RentCafe is your one-stop shop for finding a great new apartment in Madison, WI. Easily search through a wide selection of apartments for rent in Madison, WI, and view detailed information about available rentals including floor plans, pricing, photos, amenities, interactive maps, and thorough property descriptions. Property owners and managers are one click away, so feel free to contact them and find out all you need to know about the apartment you’re interested in. Browse Madison, WI apartments with rents starting from $865 and submit your rental application today!

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Apartments for Rent in Madison, WI 542 Rentals Available

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