Apartment hunting in Madison requires ruthless determination. To find that perfect rental, us Badgers have done horrible, awful things — like waiting outside of leasing offices in the wee hours of the morning, naively putting down outrageous security deposits we’ll never get back and, most notoriously, signing leases with a freshmen friend group that’s fated to dissolve before the semester’s up.
When the dust settles and the mad scramble for housing is over, many UW students experience post-lease-signing clarity. Does that Mifflin Street shack really have “good bones” like the landlord assured you it does? Is that windowless room in the posh new high-rise seriously worth $1,500 a month? Should you just become an RA and live in the dorms forever?
More likely than not, your future apartment will disappoint you. But your future neighborhood doesn’t have to. If you’re moving into a new neighborhood next year or if you’re still trying to decide which one is right for you, here’s a guide to the best (and worst) of Madison’s student enclaves…