Madison Area?

giggles0918

I live about 45 min away from Madison but we'll be most likely mobing there this summer or fall.  Any suggestions for where are good places to look to live or places I should stay away from?  I'm not that familiar with Madison really at all except the malls and a few stores I like.

If you have any Pedi or OB recommendations that would be great as well.  We have Dean insurance.

coco2787

I recommend the east side of madison, it's a tight knit community and very family friendly. Everything you need is within walking distance or less than a 10 minute drive away.

jkzinck

Are you looking to move to Madison or one of the outlining communities? I live 5 minutes outside of madison and I like it alot. I like the smaller town feel but yet you are a hop skip and a jump away. As for doctors I have a family practice doctor with dean. He delivered my daughter and will also deliver my son. I like the fact that he knows the whole family and his nurse is awesome. His name is dr Nettem and works at the fish hatchery location. Hope that helps

giggles0918

jkzinck:

Are you looking to move to Madison or one of the outlining communities? I live 5 minutes outside of madison and I like it alot. I like the smaller town feel but yet you are a hop skip and a jump away. As for doctors I have a family practice doctor with dean. He delivered my daughter and will also deliver my son. I like the fact that he knows the whole family and his nurse is awesome. His name is dr Nettem and works at the fish hatchery location. Hope that helps

Probably outside in one of the smaller towns but I'd like to still be close to everything like you mentioned. I stay at home with her so I'd like to have kids in the area or close to activites that I can take her to. 

Thanks!

jkzinck

Cottage Grove and Mcfarland would be good choices. They are both about 5 minutes from Madison. Both have some good parks around the town and the schools are good. Hope that helps

meganleakraus

I would say Verona or Middleton

mdlorenz

I second the Middleton recommendation, but I grew up there (biased!). Good schools, lots of parks/outdoor recreation (bike paths!), wide variety of neighborhoods to choose from, etc.

In terms of docs, I have to say my family doctor (Jill Mallory) is fantastic - seeing her for OB now and hoping to continue when the little one arrives in July/August. We have Dean insurance as well - she works at Wildwood Clinic (Cottage Grove location, mostly) which is a private group practice. I sought her out in particular due to her low-intervention style and integrative medicine (both at UW and University of Arizona) AND she's an IBCLC (int'l board-certified lactation consultant).  

akbrown64

We live in Sun Prairie and love it! I highly recommend checking it out. As, for doctors, I'm no help. We go to UW. 

tisunge602

Middleton is amazing but if you're planning on buying a house, you definitely pay a premium to live there. Fitchburg is nice, and so is Oregon if you want to be a little further out of the city. I'd personally stay away from Verona just because Epic has taken over that town. 

West side vs. east side... my impression after 5 years of living here is that the east side tends to be more liberal, green, hippie, new-agey, etc. and the west side is more suburbia, soccer-mom, almost corporate feeling. Both sides of town are great, it just depends what you're looking for.

As far as areas to avoid, you don't want to live on the north side for the most part. Also stay away from the Allied Drive area and the Raymond/Whitney (Orchard Ridge) area. 

HarleyKins

Are you still looking to move? Need to join a mommy group?

I also have to say that some of the Orchard Ridge area is up and coming. Houses are selling pretty quickly there.

There are 'pockets' of good/bad areas everywhere you go.

HarleyKins

If you are still looking for info, I would be happy to help. I've sold homes in all areas of Dane County. Www.keithandkinsey.com