An internationally-ranked public research university, the University of Wisconsin at Madison was founded in 1848. The University of Wisconsin at Madison, often shortened to UW Madison, is considered a Public Ivy and offers over 130 undergraduate majors. Rooted in the Wisconsin Idea that education should benefit people’s lives outside of the classroom, UW Madison has almost 900 student organizations. It’s also home to the First Wave Learning Community, the first university program in the United States centered on urban arts, spoken word, and hip-hop culture. There’s plenty of Badger pride at UW Madison. The football team plays at Camp Randall Stadium and competes in the NCAA Division I Big Ten Conference. Students can catch live music, outdoor movies, and sunsets over Lake Mendota at Memorial Union Terrace. There are several museums to explore on UW Madison’s campus, including the Geology Museum, Chazen Museum of Art, Zoological Museum, and L. R. Ingersoll Physics Museum.
Bascom Hall was built in 1857
Fountain at UW's Library Mall
Cheering on the Badgers at Kohl Center
The education building on Bascom Hill
As of April 2026, the average apartment rent in Madison, WI is $1,260 for a studio, $1,511 for one bedroom, $1,870 for two bedrooms, and $2,320 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Madison has increased by 1.0% in the past year.
Studio
459 sq ft
Average Sq Ft
$1,260/month
Average Rent
1 BR
712 sq ft
Average Sq Ft
$1,511/month
Average Rent
2 BR
1,029 sq ft
Average Sq Ft
$1,870/month
Average Rent
3 BR
1,285 sq ft
Average Sq Ft
$2,320/month
Average Rent
How to Find Off-Campus Housing Near the University of Wisconsin- Madison
Discover easy steps to find off-campus housing in Madison, WI. Get tips on locations, budgeting, and more on the Apartments.com blog.
Top Renter Questions
From touring tips to breaking a lease, get straight answers to common renter questions.
What Renting a Condominium Entails for a Tenant
Renting a condo comes with HOA rules and landlord dynamics that differ from apartments.
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly University of Wisconsin at Madison - Madison, WI (University) is for everyday living.
Moderately Walkable
Walkability
Some Public Transit
Transit
Moderately Drivable
Drivability
Very Bikeable
Bikeability
University of Wisconsin at Madison - Madison, WI (University) offers all daily essentials, but they’re limited to a few main areas.
Supermarket Within a 20 Minute Walk
Groceries
Fair Restaurant Variety Nearby
Restaurants
Fair Café Variety Nearby
Cafes
Fair Variety of Shops Nearby
Shopping
University of Wisconsin at Madison - Madison, WI (University) provides green space and wellness resources in certain areas.
Large Amount of Park Space Nearby
Parks
Fair Wellness Amenity Variety Nearby
Wellness
Get a sense of what it’s like to live in University of Wisconsin at Madison - Madison, WI (University) from everyday activity to noise and nightlife.
Vibrant Atmosphere at Times
Vibrancy
Limited Nightlife Variety Nearby
Nightlife
Somewhat Noisy
Quiet Score
Public
Grades K-5
431 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
381 Students
Public
Grades K-5
311 Students
Public
Grades K-5
149 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
493 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
725 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
452 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
256 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
263 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
623 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
2,147 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
2,025 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,649 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
Public
Grades 9-12
1,482 Students
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† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.
