Overview of Findings
Apartment List has released Madison’s results from the third annual Apartment List Renter Satisfaction Survey. This survey, which drew on responses from over 45,000 renters, provides insight on what states and cities must do to meet the needs of 111 million American renters nationwide.
"Madison renters expressed general satisfaction with the city overall," according to Apartment List. "They gave most categories above average scores."
Key findings in Madison include the following:
- Madison renters gave their city an A overall.
- The highest-rated categories for Madison were commute time and social life, which both received A+ grades.
- The areas of concern to Madison were weather (D) and affordability (B).
- Millennial renters are very satisfied with their city, giving it an overall rating of A+.
- Madison did relatively well compared to other cities in Wisconsin, including Milwaukee (B-).
- Madison did relatively well compared to other Great Lakes cities, including Chicago, IL (B-), Cleveland, OH (C) and Detroit, MI (F).
- Madison did relatively well compared to similar cities nationwide, including Los Angeles, CA (C+), New York, NY (C+) and Philadelphia, PA (C+).
- The top rated cities nationwide for renter satisfaction include Scottsdale, AZ, Irvine, CA, Boulder, CO and Ann Arbor, MI. The lowest rated cities include Tallahassee, FL, Stockton, CA, Dayton, OH, Detroit, MI and Newark, NJ.
Renters say:
- "Madison has excellent family friendly opportunities and wonderful museums. The college also offers affordable entertainment opportunities. I love the farmer’s market and Symphony on the Square in the summer." – Amanda
- "Amazing town. So much to do and it’s so easy to make new friends." – Megan W.
- "I love that Madison is a small town and a great place to raise a child. However, rent is very high and there’s a long waiting list for low-income assistance." – Brianna R.
- "Having a college campus in the middle of a city is amazing. But Madison is not as racially inclusive as it thinks it is, which can be uncomfortable if you’re not white." – Savannah W.
For more information on the survey methodology and findings or to speak to one of our researchers, please contact our team at rentonomics@apartmentlist.com.
