Madison ranked #1 best place to live in America

The city of Madison has been receiving a lot of national attention lately after being named the #1 place to live in America by Livability.com. According to Livability, Madison ranks highly in the areas of health, economic health, housing, and civics. Madison also scores highly for its variety of local amenities and for its ability to support a remote workforce. 

Do home buyers pay attention to rankings like this? 

They sure do.  

In the last few days alone we've received calls from buyers who are thinking of relocating from Illinois, Southern California, South Carolina, and Idaho. None of them really know much about Madison, other than they've heard it's a great place to live. We've received dozens of calls like these over the last two years, and we're expecting many more of them in the future.

We believe Madison's reputation will fuel a lot more growth

Dane County is already the fastest-growing region in the state, and we expect this trend to continue for the foreseeable future. Retirees, who have the freedom to live anywhere, will choose Madison for its high quality of life and access to good healthcare. Employees, who have the flexibility to work remotely, will relocate to Madison for the same reasons. 

We believe climate change will also bring many new residents to Dane County. As residents in other parts of the country deal with severe heat, drought, and wildfires, many will migrate to Madison and other Midwestern cities in search of a better life. 

The long-term implications of growth

Our growing population will increase the demand for housing, which will lead to more price appreciation in the years ahead. Investors -- who value appreciation and population growth -- will continue to target Dane County as a desirable place to own real estate. Higher prices and heavy competition will be barriers to homeownership for many in our community, while those who own real estate will continue to build wealth. 

As our population grows, so will the numbers of cars, roads, and buildings -- which will make environmental sustainability and preservation critical. We will need to protect our lakes, rivers, wetlands, prairies, forests, and air quality if we are to preserve the natural beauty and quality of life our area is known for. 

We can positively impact our future by taking positive action right now

We can create a brighter future for our neighbors and our children by joining and supporting the organizations that are already doing great work in the Madison area. For those of us who are passionate about the environment, we can support organizations like Groundswell and the Foundation for Dane County Parks. In the area of homeownership, Habitat for Humanity and Own It. And in the area of social justice, the YWCA and the Nehemiah Center for Urban Leadership Development are both engaged in important work. 

Dane County is home to so many more organizations that are taking the lead on important environmental, homeownership, and social justice initiatives. By donating our time, money and skills to an organization that inspires us, we can all make our own unique contribution starting right now.

If you'd like to take this step yourself but you're not sure where to begin, we'd love to hear from you. Our team members are actively serving many organizations within Dane County, so there's a good chance we can connect you with a group that's a great fit for your skills and interests. Please reach out anytime for a conversation. 

PS: We are always looking to highlight organizations that are making a positive impact here in Dane County. If you'd like to nominate an organization for an article in our blog, newsletter, and e-newsletter please contact us. Thank you!