So, you’ve been accepted to the graduate program of your dreams at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and now you’re looking for a place to actually, you know, LIVE. You check out the local newspapers or maybe an internet site or two, but where is best? What areas are near everything you’ll need? What areas are convenient if you don’t have a car? And what the heck does Near/Far East mean?
Fear not. Finding a convenient apartment in Madison on a graduate student’s budget is NOT impossible, and with a few pointers, you’ll find someplace to hang your hat (and maybe your Bob Dylan poster) with as little hassle as possible.
Some basic terminology.
Downtown Madison is situated on a narrow strip of land (the “isthmus”) between Lake Mendota on the north and Lake Monona on the south. You’ll often hear the terms “East Side”, “West Side”, etc., bandied about when searching for housing. These directions are all based off of the position of Capitol Square, which is the heart of downtown Madison. The “Near” and “Far” designations are general ideas of how far the place in question is from downtown. The “Near East Side”, for example, is the east side of the city closer to the capitol. For a more precise idea of where these sections are, check out the excellent City of Madison Neighborhood Sectors maps (http://www.cityofmadison.com/neighborhoods/profile/sectors.html). The only addition I’d make to that information is that these terms are fairly fluid. For instance, I’ve heard Middleton (a small almost-suburb town to the west of Madison) described as being “Far West”, while others will consider it just “West. As with everything in this guide, they are only general categories for convenience’s sake, and it’s ALWAYS a good idea to check out any housing arrangements thoroughly before signing a lease.
Points to Ponder
Even before you start looking for an apartment, there are some things you should consider. First and foremost: what will your transportation situation be? Parking downtown and on the University of Wisconsin campus is difficult and expensive, and the only university lot available to students is Lot 60. Preference for parking permits there goes to commuting students. Also, the positioning of Lot 60 on the far west edge of campus means that unless you’re working at the hospital you’ll likely have to walk or take a campus bus from your car to get to where you’re going anyway. The vast majority of graduate students either walk, bike, or take the bus to campus. Madison is a very bike-friendly town, and the public bus system is convenient and reliable (and free to UW students). Thus, if you don’t have a car, you will need to look for apartments that are closer to the university, are near bike trails, or are close to Madison Metro bus lines. Don’t forget that even if you plan on biking or walking that Wisconsin winters are snowy and cold and often make biking uncomfortable or impossible for months at a time.
Also, think timing! Some students plan their housing up to six months in advance, and though some private complexes offer flexible leases, leases are generally yearly and start on August 15th. Vacancies start being posted from January through spring.
Finally, think roommates! In general, splitting the cost of a two-bedroom apartment is much cheaper than renting a one-bedroom by yourself. Try asking around in your program to see if anyone’s looking for a roommate. Faculty and students in your program are also a great resource for information on location and pricing of housing in Madison.
So, what housing options are out there?
University-affiliated housing
One option for grad students is university-affiliated graduate student housing in Eagle Heights or in the Harvey Street apartments. Both of these locations are convenient to campus and bus lines. Eagle Heights is the only university-affiliated housing that gives priority to graduate students with families, though single graduate students and undergraduates with families also live there. Harvey Street offers housing for single graduate students, and the apartments even come “simply” furnished. These housing options offer a lot of amenities (free heat and internet, for example) for a very reasonable price, though you will probably want to contact the housing office early to see if there is a waiting list for the type of apartment that you want.
Privately-owned housing
Most of the housing immediately close to the University (which is located in the eastern edge of the Near West side) is available to and convenient to both undergraduates and graduate students. There is private apartment housing throughout the isthmus, particularly immediately south of the University, along State St. and parts of Langdon, along the downtown sections of University and Johnson Aves., and along Old University Ave. just to the west of campus. The apartments in these places are often cheaper than more remote places on the Near West and East sides, however the quality of these apartments can vary considerably. There are a lot of new apartment buildings along University and Old University Avenues, and it is possible to find a relatively new place for a good price or a relatively old place for an even better price. Also, since these areas are near downtown, you are close to cafes and nightlife, and there are many city busses that can get you where you’re going. The Madison bus system (Madison Metro) is excellent, and just about every bus that passes through downtown passes by the UW. Another good place to live that is relatively close to the UW is the Vilas area to the south of campus. This is a neighborhood in every sense of the word. It contains a lot of families and charming older houses and is a bit quieter than some of the areas right around campus. Also, it’s very green, with lots of trees, and is close to the UW Arboretum and the Vilas Zoo. Housing in this area often consists of rooms being rented in larger houses, so be prepared for roommates.
Areas right close to the university, however, can be a bit noisy and have more of an “undergrad” feel (no offense to the undergrads in the audience). Along Old University and Regent Streets, in particular, expect to have huge influxes of cars, people, and tailgaters during home games, as the Camp Randall stadium is located here. Also, downtown, though high in boutiques, restaurants, and cafes, is rather lacking in malls, grocery stores, and general stores. Most graduate students choose to live further away from the university, to get a bit more peace and quiet and be closer to amenities and malls.
The eastern end of the isthmus and the Near East region often have housing available both in shared-house and apartment complex settings, and anything on the 2 bus route is generally convenient to the university and points further west. The 6 bus route connects the east side and isthmus to East Towne Mall. Housing is also available further east, but be sure to check the bus routes available, as in general students looking for convenience do not rent much further east than Fordem Ave. due to the longer commute time and fewer bus routes available. However, if you are willing to have a slightly longer ride to work, you can often find a good deal for housing on the eastern outer edge of the isthmus.
The same pattern holds for the western end of the isthmus and the Near West region. Housing is available from the western edge of Old University avenue all the way to Segoe Road and beyond. There are a lot of apartment complexes clustered around the Hilldale Mall-Midvale Ave-Sheboygan Avenue area that are popular with graduate students, due to their quiet setting and proximity to conveniences such as Hilldale Mall, grocery and drug stores, and a post office. A lot of commuter-friendly busses run down Sheboygan Avenue, making it very quick and easy to get to campus and downtown as well as west to the West Towne Mall area. Prices in this area can vary from building to building, so checking multiple complexes for vacancies is recommended. Cheaper housing can also be found further west around the West Towne Mall area and in Middleton, though bus service through those areas can be sparse and drastically reduced on weekends.
Housing Listings
The local newspapers, the Wisconsin State Journal and the Capital Times both have apartment listings. The Badger Herald, the UW student newspaper also lists many student-friendly options. One online place to begin your search is the Campus Housing Listing Service ( http://campusareahousing.wisc.edu/ ), which is run by the University and has an easy-to-use apartment lookup feature that allows you to search by location, price, and size. The Start Renting magazine chock-full of apartment listings is free and available through most of Madison (check near newspaper kiosks). Their website can also be reached at www.startrenting.com.
Final Advice
The key to finding a great apartment at the right price is to start looking early and know what you want. Give yourself extra time to apartment hunt if you have special requirements such as needing pet-friendly housing or being on a particularly tight budget. Though there is something of a housing glut in Madison right now, the best places do tend to be snapped up early. Doing a little homework and being an early bird can give you the edge in getting the right apartment for you. Happy hunting!
Useful Sites
University of Wisconsin Graduate Student Council’s Guide to Graduate Student Life (including tips and more information on finding housing in Madison):
http://www.grad.wisc.edu/admin/gsc/gradguide/index.html
University of Wisconsin Campus Housing Listing Service:
http://campusareahousing.wisc.edu/
Start Renting website:
http://www.startrenting.com
Madison Metro (public bus system) webpage:
http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/metro/
