Madison is no stranger to “best-of” lists, having topped Livability.com’s list of the “Best Places to Live in the U.S.” for two years in a row earlier this decade. It’s also been hailed among the best cities for work-life balance, retirement and dogs.
And Madison already has landed on more lists for 2026, including these three:
• Best Cities for Families (No. 3)
Only a pair of southern cities — Lexington, Ky., and Durham, N.C. — rise above Madison when it comes to the best cities in which to raise a family, according to StorageCafe. Three other Midwest cities (St. Louis, Mo.; Omaha, Neb.; and Lincoln, Neb.) made the top 10. Analysts examined the 100 largest cities in the United States through the lens of what matters most to parents: affordability, childcare and education, health care and safety, family livability, climate and environment, and transportation options and walkability.
“Madison blends lakeside beauty with big-league opportunity,” according to StorageCare’s report. “As both a college town and state capital, it hums with energy — and families are right in the mix, making up 23% of households. It’s also one of the few top cities where the share of households with children has grown over the past decade … Childcare for two children is pricey at nearly $27,000 a year, but higher incomes help balance the scale, with costs representing about 21% of earnings. … Add in low crime and limited exposure to natural hazards, and the setting feels as secure as it is scenic.”
• Best State Capitals to Live In (No. 4)
WalletHub evaluated all 50 state capitals using 48 different measures covering affordability, economic stability, quality of life, education and health care — ranging from cost of living and crime rates to the quality of public school systems. Austin, Texas, took top honors, but it was essentially a tie between Madison; Raleigh, N.C.; and Atlanta, Ga. What’s more, our city ranked in the top six in several of the most important categories: highest percentage of residents with a bachelor’s degree (2nd), quality of life (3rd), quality of education and health (3rd), lowest debt as a percentage of median income (3rd), lowest average work hours (4th), lowest unemployment rate (4th) and economic well-being (6th).
• Happiest Cities (12th)
WalletHub (again) analyzed more than 180 of the largest U.S. cities using insights from positive-psychology research. Each city was evaluated across 29 key indicators of happiness — including depression rates, income growth and average daily leisure time. Madison is the only city in the upper Midwest to rank in the top 15; Minneapolis is next at No. 34; Milwaukee lands at No. 153.
“Research shows that having more money only increases your happiness until you’re making at least $75,000 per year — anything more you earn likely won’t have an impact,” according to WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. “Therefore, when deciding where to live to maximize your happiness, you’ll want to pick a city that offers more than just a decent average income. The ideal city provides conditions that foster good mental and physical health, like reasonable work hours, short commutes, good weather and caring neighbors.”
That’s good advice, whether you plan to relocate to Madison or anyplace else.
But don’t just take my word (or someone else’s words) for it. If you already live in or around Madison, find out how to enjoy life here more. If you’re thinking of moving to the Madison area, discover what all the good news is about. Either way, spring has sprung and the city awaits.
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