Possible relocation to Madison, WI!! Advice/suggestions welcome!

[housecat]

I'm not sure this board is the best place to post, but I know I've seen re-location threads on the Budget Board before...and I know this is where I spend the most of my time on the boards!

I had a telephone interview yesterday (phase 2 of the hiring process) for a position in Madison, WI. The pay is fabulous, and if I end up getting the job offer, relocation is required. I still have to fly up for a personal interview if I made it through the phone interview screening yesterday...I should hear something back within the next couple of weeks. I figured it's never too early to start looking into it.

I've done just a little research, and the school districts sound awesome. I love to travel, and I really don't mind the idea of re-location...I've lived in four different places in the last ten years. However, I have two small children now, and I've never moved with them. Also, Wisconsin is so far north! The farthest north I've ever lived is St. Louis, and that's midwest, lol. I'm a southern girl at heart, but as I said, I'm not opposed to this idea at all. Just a little cautious, as I realize it will be a HUGE lifestyle change, and more than just MY life will be affected with this move.

My DH says we should go for it. Lol, he's ready to start packing and I haven't even gotten the job yet. Unfortunately, my spontenaity (sp?) has decreased since having children...I'm more hesitant to do lots of things. I think if I passed up this job (if I even end up getting the offer), I would end up kicking myself for not giving it a try...the pay is awesome. Not only that, but it sounds like a really exciting opportunity and a great company to work for.

I guess I looking for any advice/information on the area from anyone who lives and works (or has ever lived and worked there). Is it a good place to raise kids? Lots of activities for them? Again, the school districts look awesome, but any info would be appreciated! Which part of town should we look into? I believe the company is located in the Madison/Verona area. The cost of living is higher up there...I am thinking of renting a large apartment instead of jumping straight into trying to buy a home. Help! TIA

 

[Mindy Marie]

Madison is a great town! Lots of diversity, and the schools are great. I went to college in Madison, and loved it. I would actually love to move back. But be prepared it is colder than St.Louis! Good Luck!

 

[2minnies]

I personally would move back to Madison in a minute!! Take a look at www.madison.com for Madison news, etc. If you want to take a look at housing prices, www.firstweber.com is one of the many local real estate companies. You might find housing to be high, along with state and local taxes.
Good luck with your decision.

 

[We4mickey]

Can't tell you much about Madison itself. I don't live there, but about an hour away. Wisconsin is a great place to bring up kids. We don't have hurricanes, but we do have snow. If you do get the job let me be the first to say Welcome to Wisconsin!

 

[CruiseForFun]

Hello,

I work in madison and live on the eastside. It is nice there is a lot to do here. Milwaukee is only 1.5 hours away and Chicago is under 3 hours away.
It does get cold in the winter and we do get snow. There are plenty of places to eat and shop. There is also a zoo (free) that is prety nice depending on how old your kids are.

Let me know if I can answer any questions.

 

[buzzgirls&dad]

One more vote for Madison. My entire family graduated from the UW. If I could, I would move back in a heartbeat. Both of my brothers remained after school and love living in the area. My DSil is from Atlanta (a real southern girl) and she has handled the winters fairly well. We all keep giving her cuddle duds for gifts. If you need more help, PM me.

 

[Misty89]

Not from Madison - but Wisconsin is AWESOME......yes, winters and cold and long, but we have three more very wonderful seasons that make up for the cold winters in a heartbeat!
welcome to WI if you move!


Tina

 

[Redbudlover]

Hi, Buzzgirls,

Madison is awesome for for a family! It is always ranked in the top three places to live for small cities in the US - beats out Austin all the time, which really ticks us Texans off! But seriously the educational system is one of the best in the country. It is on the East side of Lake Michigan so you don't get the Lake Effect snow that you would get in Indiana and Michigan, nor the cold winds off the lake as it blows away from you. You are close to Chicago which makes a huge cultural experience within weekend distance for you. the people are wonderful, the health resources some of the best in the country. All in all people all over the Midwest would give lots to live in Madison. Good luck with the interview! A little pixie dust for you
Redbudlover

 

[dnoyes]

I hear they make you wear cheese on your head at the football games

 

[housecat]

^^^LOL, that's okay...I'm already a Packers fan. I love Brett Favre...he's a local, ya know. And thanks for the feedback everyone. I'm getting really excited about the opportunity. Glad to hear it's such a great town...and it beats out Austin???? I lived in Austin for three years and loved, loved, loved it!! So that's encouraging...

The cold will definitely take some getting used to, but with the summers getting hotter and hotter every year down here, I think I may be ready for a trade-off!

The cold is my 6 yo DD's biggest concern. Heh, I asked her what she thought about moving up north and her reply was, "But we don't have any snow boots or snowsuits". Kids...

 

[annsteere]

The lakes are beautiful. Lots of water fun available and the low cost cultural events at the University are terriffic.

Raised in Madison I'd love to return there. Winter in Madison is beautiful: snow that makes everything look wonderful. It is MUCH nicer than a more "moderate" winter where the snow falls, turns to grey sludge, and then hangs around a few days before melting off and leaving you with grey skies and leafless trees.

 

[ckmommy]

Hi there,

I will be the voice from the other side. My DH and I grew up and in the Milwaukee area. When Dh graduated from college, he was offered a position in Madison--which he took. We started looking at houses and became very discouraged. We could not find anything we remotely liked (granted we were just out of college and our house budget was not the highest). We ended up buying in Janesville--about 45 minutes south (MUCH better prices on home--and it is still that way today). I graduated from college a year later was got a job in the Madison school district. I was not impressed with the district--again, I walked in at a weird time (the teachers were on strike and the morale was pretty low). That was 9 years ago.

Madison itself is a nice town with many things to do. It is a college town, and I think some love the town for their memories of it as "their" college town. I did not get the hype.

As for the winters--they are long, gray, and cold. The summers are very nice and you can't beat the fall colors and the spring flowers and grass!! The people of Wisconsin are friendly and welcoming. We moved to Houston 5 years ago. We love to go to Wisconsin to visit, but I do not think we will ever live there again ( I do not like to cold--our length of warm-hot- weather is Wisconsin's length of cold weather).

Good luck in your choice.

 

[Redbudlover]

well, there is that little thing..... LOL

 

[spaceacewannabe]

But seriously the educational system is one of the best in the country. It is on the East side of Lake Michigan so you don't get the Lake Effect snow that you would get in Indiana and Michigan, nor the cold winds off the lake as it blows away from you.

Actually, Wisconsin is on the west side of Lake MI---the lake is to our east I saw someone from Sheboygan who I'm sure can attest to lake effect snow---but not as far in as Madison.

The last few winters have been pretty short & sweet (knock on wood!)...not too much snow or terrible cold. And you get used to it.

Wisconsin schools are outstanding, and the state has some of the most rigorous licensing around (and getting more so). If you're unsure of the Madison school district, you mentioned the company is in Verona, and that district is outstanding and growing. I've heard that the Madison district is suffering a bit because of the booming suburban districts (like Verona).

Good luck!

 

[snowbunny]

I grew up in Madison. It's a great place to live and raise kids. Go for it!

 

[SueM in MN]

Madison is my home town, went to college there and love the city (but had to move to Minnesota when my DH got transferred). I worked for 8+ years for the Dane County Public Health Department (Madison is in Dane County), so I traveled around the area a lot.

We lived in Fitchburg, which is sort of between Madison and Verona. Fitchburg doesn't have its own school district - the part we lived in was in the Verona school district (which was an excellent district), other parts of Fitchburg are served by the Madison or Oregon School districts (this link has links to the webpages for all 3 districts). I had experience as a nurse in the Oregon and Verona districts and was impressed with both (and as a parent in Verona). Madison is also a good district, but is large and has the kinds of problems that you can get with large urban school districts.

Other areas close to Verona include:
Mt. Horeb (also a link to Mt. Horeb Schools)
Oregon
Stoughton (also a link to the Stoughton Schools)

There are smaller places that are still fairly close to Madison and Verona-
Janesville (someone already mentioned they live there)
Lake Mills
Fort Atkinson

I'd suggest finding the company you are applying to on the webs and seeing where their office is. Then, look for places close to it and find their websites.

 

[SeeDisney]

YOu should also try this thread at the Community Board -- it's a very heavily used board.

Good luck with your transfer.

 

[bab31]

Coming from a person who grew up in the southwest...the cold, yeah its there I have survived 26 years here. Always said I dont regret raising my children here in Wisconsin. I dont live in Madison but a couple of hours north yet. It is true, the hardest part of winter is the grey days. I miss the sunshine as the sun shines in Phoenix 364 days of the year. But the crime there is horendous!

Is this good for your career. Thats a major consideration!

 

[jamesnnick]

Here's another vote for Madison and Wisconsin in general. I was born and raised here, graduated from the UW, and currently work for the Oregon School District which is just south of Madison. I'm probably biased (okay, definately biased), but we have a great district with high academic achievement, and teachers that really care about the kids. And if your children ever happen to need speech therapy, they'd end up with a great therapist (that's me!!)

Best of luck with the interview and with making the decision about whether to relocate. Change is always hard, but this really is a great place to live!