BestCityFor

Best city for remote work? Madison, WI

A
Score
65/100
Rank #17 (top 200 cities)
Data: ACS 2023 (5-year)

Madison is a top-tier fit for remote work—especially if you value typical rent (2br), plus broadband subscription. Overall, it lands in the top tier (#17 of 200). The biggest tradeoff is commute 45+ min share.

Methodology · Sources · WI rankings

Scope note (city proper)

This page scores the incorporated city limits (Census “Place”), not the metro area. That’s why some cities can look very different vs their surrounding region.

Why Madison ranks here

  • Typical rent (2BR): $1,432/mo (1% lower than the national median; better for this metric).
  • Broadband subscription: 91% (1% higher than the national median; better for this metric).
  • Bachelor’s+ rate: 59% (71% higher than the national median; better for this metric).

Watch-outs

  • Commute 45+ min share: 5% (52% lower than the national median; better for this metric).
  • Median household income: $76,983 (2% higher than the national median; better for this metric).

City snapshot

Basic demographics from ACS 2023 (city proper).

Population
275,568
Estimated total population (ACS).
Male vs female
Male 50%Female 50%

Key metrics

Values shown are from ACS 2023. National medians are computed across the ranked city set.

Typical rent (2BR)
$1,432/mo
National median: $1,441/mo
Work-from-home share
18%
National median: 12%
Broadband subscription
91%
National median: 91%
Median household income
$76,983
National median: $75,598
Bachelor’s+ rate
59%
National median: 35%
Commute 45+ min share
5%
National median: 11%

Score breakdown (by category)

Category scores are 0–100 and summarize groups of metrics used in the final score.

City
National median (dataset)
Affordability
Typical 2BR rent and housing pressure.
67/100
Connectivity
Broadband availability as a practical remote-work proxy.
91/100
Workforce
Remote-work adoption and human-capital signals.
36/100
Comfort
Commute friction and climate comfort.
95/100

Education (age 25+)

Share of adults by attainment (ACS).

4%
Less than HS
36%
HS / Some college
34%
Bachelor’s
26%
Advanced

Work style

WFH vs not WFH (ACS).

18%
Work from home
82%
Not WFH

Internet access

Household broadband subscription (ACS).

91%
Broadband
9%
No broadband

Map

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Scorecard breakdown

Bars are rescaled to 0–100 for readability (percentage metrics use their actual percent).

City
National median (dataset)
Typical rent (2BR)
National median $1,441/mo
$1,432/mo
Broadband subscription
National median 91%
91%
Work-from-home share
National median 12%
18%
Median household income
National median $75,598
$76,983
Bachelor’s+ rate
National median 35%
59%
Commute 45+ min share
National median 11%
5%

Similar cities (by score)

#15 Boise City, ID
66/100
#16 Portland, OR
66/100
#18 Sunnyvale, CA
65/100
#19 Bellevue, WA
65/100

FAQ

›What is Madison’s remote work score and rank?
Madison, WI scores A (65/100) and ranks #17 out of the top 200 US cities in this dataset.
›Is this based on Madison city proper or the metro area?
City proper (incorporated place). This uses Census ‘Place’ boundaries, not the metro area. Metro-level rankings can differ a lot from the city itself.
›What is the population of Madison, WI?
Population is about 275,568 (ACS 2023, city proper).
›What is the male vs female split in Madison, WI?
About 50% male and 50% female (ACS 2023).
›What is a typical monthly rent in Madison, WI?
Typical rent (2BR) is $1,432/mo (national median: $1,441/mo).
›What share of workers work from home in Madison, WI?
Work-from-home share is 18% (national median: 12%).
›How common is broadband internet in Madison, WI?
Broadband subscription is 91% of households (national median: 91%).
›What does the education mix look like in Madison, WI?
Among adults 25+, the shares are roughly: less than HS 4%, HS/some college 36%, bachelor’s 34%, advanced 26%.
›Where does this data come from for Madison, WI?
Metrics are from Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates (city proper / incorporated place), with optional NOAA climate normals when available.

Note: Scores are informational and depend on data coverage and methodology. Always validate against your personal constraints (job, neighborhood, commute, safety, schools, healthcare).