Best Places to Live 2007: No. 1 Town

I like Middleton because its the true “progressive” part of the Madison area. Middleton actually wants to promote business, housing, shops, fun restaurants, and just a generally cool upscale vibe. I call that progressive. Madison seems somewhat nihilistic and values an empty corn field more than building an office buidling or restaurant, which would acutally put a paycheck in someones pocket. Why are they so anti-business and anti car? People are friendly here too. If you walk around on the east side of Madison, people dont even look at you, and they scowl at you if you say hello. Sorry, but its two different worlds in the Madison area. I choose upbeat friendly Middleton over Environmental extremism and anti growth policies.

What they failed to mention about Middleton is there is only public transportation on the weekdays. There really isnt much for the kids to do on the weekend if you cant get a bus to the mall.

I love this place

All right this is a great place to live; however it is Kansas afterall. If you lead a more “liberal” lifestyle there is not one city in the US that beats Seattle. The dynamics of Seattle are so vast that you can definitely get over the fact that housing is extremely expensive and there is the rain too. However nasty the weather or housing market may be, there are tons of reasons why people choose to call Seattle home. Here the only judging you hear is your own.

Gripe, gripe, gripe… Give it a rest. If you don’t like the place, get out. If you do like it, yippy, stay.

I live in Middleton. I believe like all cities, it has some flaws, however, it is a great place to live. I have access to several wonderful parks (within walking distance), ride my bike on roads that have designated bike lanes, and walk to nearby shopping. I live in the “new” area of Middleton. We built a very modest home that we could afford. We are a bi-racial couple, never had any issues related to that. Our neighborhood is filled with both liberals and conservatives. Perfect? No. Honored to have been picked? Yes. Everyone would be happy to considered #1, wouldn’t they?

I don’t live in Middleton, but I work there. Some of the nicest people I know live in Middleton. The traffic is not bad. The roads are always in better condition than anywhere in Wisconsin. Even with the development of the business parks and some urban sprawl, the downtown business area is kept very neat and clean. The homes that line Hubbard Ave are beautifully maintained and have a real small town feel. I see they are building a new fire department and down the road a home for people and families getting treatment for cancer. If you love pie, you will love Hubbards Diner! I mean what is not to love about Middleton? I work with the best people and I am proud to work in the community! I drive through it everyday! If you find yourself in town on the 4th of July or Memorial Day, Century Ave is line with flags and flowers in remembrance of our veterans. I have taken some of my best sunrise photos on lake Mendota. I have watched a sunrise while watching the UW Madison womens row team heading out for a morning drill. The parks are filled with people on their lunches enjoying the lake and children have many playgrounds to play on there, not to mention the public swimming park!

If I had to live there and own a home, even though my taxes would be twice as much, I would still do it because it would be worth every penny to live in such a great small city!

Sure some of these town may be great places to live but as far as education is concern they are poor on test scores. It seems like the smaller the town and the cheaper the housing the education is poor…More cities in California than any other state are highest in test scores. Small cities in the bay area like Los Gatos, Cupertino, Saratoga, Los Altos and Northern parts like Folsom,Eldoraldo,Rocklin, Granite Bay to name few..If education is important to you……

Our family moved to Middleton one year ago and all I can is this: As a U.S. Army soldier, I have moved around our great country many times over the past 20 years and could not ask for a better place to live and raise our children. I would agree with a few other posts that Middleton “is like” an extension of Madison on the west side. That’s what makes it even better in my opinion. Madison itself is a wonderful Midwest city. There is a great sense of community with a small town feel and opportunities are endless. That said, it offers many things that much larger cities have to offer. OK, so #1 is always going to be debatable, right? As for me, I couldn’t think of a better, safer, place to leave my family while serving in Iraq. I’ll see you all at the Capital Brewery when I return.

We are delighted to be number 1 in small towns!
We built a home in Middleton in 1978 and have lived here since. Always a great place to live and raise a family. The schools prepared both of my children well and they successfully graduated from UW-Madison. In the latest issue of a local magazine, “In Madison”, Middleton High School is ranked 3rd in the county, ahead of all the Madison public high schools. So much for other responders for lambasting the Middleton Cross Plains school district…..
We have had only positive interaction with the police. Where in the country can you leave your name at the police department when you travel and they will check on your home while you are gone? Of course, if you are speeding down University Avenue, you deserve a ticket. Too many people don’t observe the speed limits.
Traffic? You haven’t lived in a big metropolitan area where you drive a lot. Look at big metro areas where driving an hour to some destination is normal. Be thankful.
The library is also a great asset, always ranked high in the state and country; with its renovation of the lower level it is even more wonderful. We don’t charge fees!!! Many of the patrons come to it not only because of that, but because of the great programming and staff. Any many of them are from places other than Middleton.
Our garbage and trash are picked up weekly, no problem ever with that.
And our taxes beat many of the other communities in the area by a wide margin.
We who live here feel it is a distinct city that solves its problems well. Those in Madison may think we are just an extension of them, but we know otherwise. Yes, we benefit from the University being located in Madison, and its many resources. And we benefit in other ways too.
I might add that we were very proud when Madison was ranked number 1 and would hope that the folks in Madison and surrounding communities would share our pride with us. This also reflects on them.
We are lucky to live here and wouldn’t trade it away.

middleton is jut another part of madison. i grew up in madison and lived there all my life and loved where i lived in eagle heights shorewood area and downtown. i agree with others posters about middleton, it never ever came up as a great place to live as far as anyone i knew who lived in WI is concerned..it never even had it’s own character, just another part of madison which is what i find so funny. it is not even considered another city.

In response to “Posted By K..MADISON,WI : July 21, 2007 11:33 pm”
Your views seem skewed. The inconveniences you mention exist in just about every town bigger than Stoughton. I grew up in Door County, and lived in Madison for 16 years spending a lot of quality time in Middleton with my friends who live there. I’m sorry you only pass through because the place is really very pleasant. If the traffic in Madison/Middleton is “horrible”, you’ve obviously never lived anywhere else. I understand that on a bad day you may be delayed up to 15 minutes on your way home during rush hour. For the majority of U.S. that’s not even considered a delay. Let me get this straight, they also expect you drive the speed limit?!?! Those wankers! They have little low-income housing?!?! Why I would never spend $300,000 on a home unless there was a nice low income neighborhood just out my back door! Perhaps it’s just me, but when I think of MONEY Magazine’s Best Places to Live “low income housing availability” is not the first criteria that comes to mind. I’m just not sure if MONEY magazine readers are in tune with the need for low income housing. I agree that if you don’t live in Middleton, it may be out of the way for you. I have a friend who lives in Milwaukee and he has to drive all the way to Middleton to visit his mother, and I’m sure he would agree with you that Middleton is out of the way. You admit that all you do is drive through the city and then you say “PEOPLE need to spend time in MIDDLETON,WI to see for themselves before putting something into writing.” Maybe, just like you, they just drove through a lot… And then they put something into writing…

Middleton is a wonderful-friendly place to live.

It is a little “yuppie”, but most of the people are friendly, and truly good neighbors.

We have lived in Middleton for years and plan to retire here.

Thanks for honoring our city. We all work hard to make it the best by being good neighbors and volunteering in the community.
I can’t belive some of the negative comments I read below, they just aren’t true.

So people are actually complaining about Middleton being on the list? Are you kidding me? I don’t live in or around Madison, but I’ve visited countless times. I have to say that the area as a whole is so much better than all of southeastern Wisconsin, especially the S hole known as Milwaukee. Those of you who are outraged about Middleton being on the list, should instead be angry about places like GERMANTOWN(of all places), Franklin, and New Berlin being on the list. Honestly, those complaining about Middleton have obviously never spent that much time in Milwaukee or the surrounding suburbs. Oh, and to Katlin, try teaching at a Milwaukee Public School, then come back and tell me if you still think Middleton schools are horrible.

Middleton is just the west side of Madison.

I also have to agree. Middleton is NOT the best area to live in;let alone be around. As mentioned;traffic is HORRIBLE,always congested,roads/city of Middleton is actually an EXTENSION of the West Side of Madison.One DOESN’T truly know when you are leaving Madison going into Middleton. Speed traps DO exist with Middleton Police and even than when one is not from that area;they don’t care! Middleton is all about money,businesses being squeezed into tight miniature looking strip malls and bunched up in city blocks. Housing is outrageous and again..NOT low income, or middle class friendly by any means. I am shocked that Middleton,Wi area to be chosen #1 to live in. I don’t live there;but spend many days of the week in Middleton accessing medical care for a multi challenged child. MIDDLETON is also out of way and roads are not easily found…..like trying to find places on map that do not exist.
Alot of Madison and surrounding areas are all “TRYING” to move into MIDDLETON; but again…only friendly to certain economic status. Middleton is NOT small by any means and seems to be constantly building up everytime I am out and about in Middleton. PEOPLE need to spend time in MIDDLETON,WI to see for themselves before putting something into writing. Once again;media/magazine hype before the actual information has been studied. As for crime rates;somebody mentioned police depts “DO” hide stats(Madison does all the time)as to bring in more revenue/Tourism and keep actual info AWAY from the general public. Cannot stree enough the need to do public survey,VISIT/STAY and than find out true info!! PEOPLE..>DO your homework in future.

Middleton was a great place to grow up in. I lived there for 23 years, moved to Chicago for a few and now I’m heading back. I can’t believe anyone would knock this town. GREAT place to live!

I was fortunate enough to live in Middleton as a young child and have nothing but the best memories of the community. Has it changed, yes, I think it is even better now. It is a lovely community and I would happily live there again, but for now I am stuck in hot, smoldering, dusty Phoenix Az where the crime rate is out of site thanks to….oh yea, that’s another edition of Money Magazine for another time.

I love how people put us down whom have never even been to our town (Mr Alton). You can study all you want on statistics but until you’ve spent time here. Please dont judge us. We have a great communtity and I’m so honered to be a part of it. We have everything and then some! Come and see for yourself! We’ll even meet you at the Brewery and welcome you to prove you wrong!

Don, the reason Middleton wasn’t on the list last year was because it wasn’t eligible. They only looked at larger cities last year.

Katlin, you are 76 and retired, and have no current frame of reference for Middleton schools. I found the comment about Madison schools being better than Middleton’s to be laughable. Last time I checked several months ago, the cover of the Wisconsin State Journal reported that several of Madison’s schools were considered “failing”. Madison schools are much more violent, too, with Madison East High School being locked down four times last year due to threatening incidents. There was even a student raped in a stairwell at Madison West High School a few years ago. When the victim returned to school a few days later, she was beaten up. That kind of crap doesn’t happen in Middleton! You don’t have a leg to stand on when you talk about Madison schools being the “best in the nation.” As for Middleton’s school district being cheap, have you walked through Middleton High School lately? Enough said.

John Hanson, do you seriously think the police department fudges the numbers to make the city look more appealing? Talk about a conspiracy theorist! Do you have any direct knowledge of this? I didn’t think so. As someone who works for the police department, I can tell you that every incident is reported as is. As for burglaries, all you have to know is that someone recently had a bike stolen from their open garage, and it was recorded as a residential burglary. Hardly fudging the numbers.

I have lived in Middleton for 25 years, and while it’s not perfect, I agree that it has a lot to offer. You can’t please everyone, I know, but for those of you offering harsh criticism of Middleton, try actually spending some time here (not just driving through) or living here, and then see what you think.

People putting down Middleton …seriously do you actually live in Middleton, WI?? move somewhere else for just a little while and you will be begging to move back to Middleton. I truly took it for granted until i moved to Mechanicsville, va (which is on this top 100 list and truly should not be!) First off the schools show a lot about the community. I went to the schools for 12 years never once saw a fight. Moved to Mechanicsville for 1 semester and saw 5. The school was so horrible I begged to move back to MHS and be able to graduate from a safe and good school. I really took Middleton for granted and I would love to raise my children in such a wonderful place, it’s just too cold! haha

As for the trash, most places you have to pay for it to be removed or take it to the dump yourself so stop complaining. I have never once had a problem with the police and considering during those teenage years I talked to them many times..haha.. they did their job. They are the police if you break the law they will get you…duh! As for the traffic lights, smart ones traffic lights are there to stop people from speeding! If there are stop lights then people cannot go that fast on main roads which means there will not be as many accidents. If your gonna complain about something at least do some thinking first.

I also love that the people complaining don’t even live in Middleton..and sorry but Cross Plains does not count.

The only thing that I would complain about is that there is not a lot of diversity but that is something that cannot be helped. There are houses of all different sizes and prices ranges so maybe now that it is number one more diversity will come.

One more thing……
For those who have said “don’t be a person of color and live in Middleton”. You must not be a person of color. My wife and I are an interacial couple with 3 kids. When we moved here 11 years ago (from Moreno Valley CA and So. Central L.A. where I grew up) I have never had a issue. Not one!! The person who watched our 3 small children in her home was married to a police sargent of the Middleton police dept. That whole family did nothing but love our kids. She was an excellant caregiver. I’m sure she did not have a lot of contact with black people.It was as if we had meet a old friend. Why because Middleton is not about the color of people it’s all about the people. My wife who teaches middle school can’t step out into this community without parents and students and former students loving her. It would be very strange to be having dinner out and not have someone stop at our table to say “Hello” and give her a hug!
If you look at any real estate in this area it will always mention the schools first as the #1 selling point.

So there you have it from a person of color who has lived in Middleton for over 11 years . When i was pulled over my the Middleton police dept. which has been about 4 times I was only given a ticket once. The last which was about a year ago the officer did say ” aren’t you Mrs. R’s husband?”

It was sad to see that a large news organization like yours has given a form of approval to a place as negative, and as materialistic, and small-minded as Middleton, Wisconsin.

I am 76, and I grew up in Middleton. When I was growing up it actually was a distinct and separate place, with a mile or two of corn fields between it and the Madison city limits. Later, I taught school in Middleton for 15 years, before I took a job with the Madison schools where I taught for 32 more years.

I am now retired, but I can assure you and your readers that the schools in Middleton are considerably inferior to those in Madison. Madison schools are consistently among the best in the nation; Middleton schools are not even among the best in rural central Dane County. The school board in Middleton is just too cheap to pay the price for schools of excellence. They think that they can get by by saying that the Middleton schools are exceptional and not actually spend the money which legitimately exceptional schools require. They believe that if they repeat the idea that the Middleton schools are good schools that people will believe it and will parrot it in their turn, as some of your readers have already done.

But most people are not this dumb - they know the difference between excellent and mediocre. And, at their very best, Middleton schools are mediocre. In fact, most are less than mediocre. This was true when I was growing up in Middleton, and it remains true today - the same type of short-sighted cheapskates are still on the Middleton school board; nothing has changed, and Middleton is such a reactionary and un-progressive place that it is highly unlikely that anything good will change for the better in Middleton any time soon.

It is both sad and discouraging that you have told anyone - much less an entire nation - that Middleton, Wisconsin is a positive and good place to live.

It is not.

And you should think hard about your responsibility for telling people so.

Katlin S., Madison, Wisconsin

BRAVO, CNNMoney!!!! BRAVO!!!!

Having the exceptional taste and superior civic insight to anoint Middleton, Wisconsin the No.1 small town in all of America is a little like giving a lifetime achievement award to a housefly because of all of the obnoxious and irritating noise it makes. You can pile all of the awards you want to on top of the housefly, you can shower it with glory and renown, but, push comes to shove, it is still a housefly and, as such, it is still unhealthy to all it comes in contact with.

Middleton is filled to the brim with people who are reactionary, short-sighted, envious, and so stingy that they make George Bush look decent and generous. And this is just the members of the city government and the school board. Middleton is home to more bigots than any community in Wisconsin outside of Milwaukee.

BRAVO AGAIN, CNNMONEY!!!!
You really know how to pick ‘em.

Betty, Oregon, Wi.

I have never been to Middleton and have only been to Madison twice - very briefly for a couple of basketball games at the University several years ago. But two years ago when I was a student at the University of Illinois I took a course in urban government which spent a week studying Middleton, and, as a result of what I learned in this course, I was shocked to read today that Middleton had been named the No.1 best small town to live in in the USA by CNNMoney.

The course I took was about how different municipalities in an urban area organized and conducted the affairs of their towns, and how these compared and contrasted in quality with those of other municipalities in the same area. We studied the metropolitan areas of Kansas City, Phoenix, Twin Cities, San Antonio, Seattle, New Bedford, Massachusetts, Charleston, South Carolina, and Madison. A lecture and 2 discussion periods were devoted to Middleton which was shown in quite convincing detail to be a town with a terribly short-sighted, tight-fisted, and quite incompetent city government which went out of its way to not be of help to the needs of most of its citizens - roads were poorly maintained, traffic in an already geographically congested area was made unnecessarily difficult, no effort was made to have an ethnically diverse community in spite of adjacent Madison’s being one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the nation, sewerage was below par, trash service was widely complained about, real estate values were skewed towards high income families, planning was, at best, haphazard, and the city made concerted efforts to obstruct and even curtail its participation in regional planning activities. Furthermore, in a similar vein, the school district which Middleton shares with the rural area to its west, was so notoriously tight-fisted that there was no hope of its schools ever achieving the same levels of excellence enjoyed by the schools in Madison. A poll taken in Middleton in 2004 and detailed in the course’s lectures showed widespread dissatisfaction among the people in Middleton over the fact that their childrens’ schools were so mediocre compared to those in Madison just a few blocks away. The poll also showed an extensive racial bigotry throughout Middleton which the city government was aware of and made no effort to combat or curtail. The same poll, taken in Madison, showed that the foremost characteristics which people in Madison had of people in Middleton were that Middleton residents were bigoted and were very conservative Republicans who were frightened to live in Madison.

In comparing municipal governments in the greater Madison area - the quality of their services, and their responsiveness to the desires of their communities - the course found that Middleton lagged far beyond not just Madison in these categories, but also nearby Sun Prairie, and Fitchburg.

In the final week of the course, students were asked to evaluate which municipalities covered by the course, they considered the most desirable and least desirable places to live. Seattle was judged the most desirable large city, and New Bedford the least desirable. Edina, Minnesota was judged the most desirable small community, and Middleton was judged the least desirable. It is therefore very surprising - and, essentially not credible - that CNNMoney would designate Middleton as it has.

Steve N., Alton, Illinois

Middleton has a higher crime rate than you have posted. The police department intentionally does not report all property burglaries and domestic violence cases to keep the stats low to encourge unweary tourists into moving to the city over Madison. There would be not Middleton without Madison. Madison should be #1.

Looks like Rose and Charlie are realated, because they most both have a lead foot. Sour grapes!

Middleton is a great place!

Hey Jack, I mean Rose, I mean Charlie, are you all related or are you all the same person with an axe to grind posting the same exact thing under different fake names. You seem to be the only person who hates middleton on this board. Traffic problems, what are you talking about? Trash collection problems, are you sure you were putting your garbage at the end of your driveway like everyone else? Madison public school being better than Middleton’s, are you crazy? Obviously you haven’t done much research on that topic. I bet anyone that goes to LaFollote or East would glady go to Middleton if they had the choice. Gestapo police, did you get a speeding ticket or what? There is nothing wrong with the police force at all. Corrupt city government, what is this Chicago. You have no clue what your talking about, and since you don’t even live in Middleton maybe you should relax a little bit.

P.S. - Quit posting the same thing over and over again.

I could not disagree more with Jack in Dane County — my opinion is that all of his complaints are 100% unbased in truthiness. I moved to Middleton from Madison 4 years ago, and we have found the schools to be fantastic, the parks to be first-rate, and even the garbage collection puts that which we had in Madison to utter shame. Poorly paved roads?! Traffic?! Jack must not drive in Madison much. In winter, you can tell when you cross from Madison into Middleton — the snow removal and salt treatment is notably better in Middleton. I heartily applaud the selection of Middleton as #1 Best Place to Live — and I could not agree more!

When friends first told me that Middleton had been picked by a news network as the #1 best small town to live in in the country, I thought that they were joking.

Because the concept that Middleton is to be applauded in any positive way is a joke.

In the first place, Middleton is not even a “small town”. It is just a part of Madison, and one of the least positive parts at that. And it is completely devoid of the qualities which have made Madison a great city, widely recognized over generations as a center for human and civic fairness, exceptional schools, the quality of its government, and its intellectual and cultural progress.

Our family lives in an un-incorporated, suburban part of Dane County, a couple of miles northwest of Middleton. Our 5 children are in the school district which also includes Middleton, and we are disappointed by the markedly inferior quality of the schools there, especially compared to those in Madison which are among the very best in the nation.

I lived in Middleton for five years while I was in graduate school at the University of Wisconsin, my wife grew up in Middleton and attended the schools there, my brother-in-law still lives there and wants to leave but cannot find anyone to buy his house which has now been on the market at a reasonable price for 10+ months. I do not know a single person who has a good thing to say about Middleton, either in my family, or among my friends. Did people from your news organization actually come to Middleton before you made your choice, or did you just read the baloney which the Chamber of Commerce sends out?

The things which Middleton is most known for in this area are an astonishingly incompetent city government, inferior schools, ridiculously high real estate prices, awful traffic, poorly paved roads, hit-or-miss trash collection, self congratulations, a police force which has never been acquainted with the United States Constitution, terribly poor urban planning, speed traps, and a rampant disinclination to spend a dollar to help anyone.

And you absolutely do not want to be a person of color living in Middleton, a community of acute and widespread prejudice.

The news media seems to become more and more unworthy of credibility and trust by the year, and your choice of Middleton as a highly desirable place to live certainly widens this gap even further.

Jack, in Dane County,Wisconsin

P.S.
The idea that Middleton is somehow a “small town” is an entirely false one; and no amount of people saying that it “feels like a small town” will make it otherwise. Although it contributes nothing to what has made Madison a vibrant, diverse, and exciting urban area, Middleton is an integral part of greater Madison. If you are going to talk about attractive “small towns”, how about actually dealing with and dwelling on legitimate small towns?

I moved to Middleton from Riverside CA 11 years ago . I grew up in the heart of So. Central Los Angeles. For me and my family Middleton was a great choice. My wife teaches in Middleton and my children attend school here and I love it. Being a black man and living in this city has never been a issue for me our my family. We have great friends and great neighbors. Middleton is a wonderful place to live!

My wife and I heard about Middleton making the No. 1 spot this morning and are not surprised at all. We have lived in Middleton since 2003 and we love it here! Middleton has an identity and feel independent from its larger neighbor. The city actually supports public transportation options and alternatives to auto-dependency. When we don’t take the bus to work, we commute to downtown Madison on our bicycles. But Middleton, in contrast to many other places, is bike-friendly as well. There plenty to do (shopping, restaurants, coffee shops, public library) within easy reach, by either walking or biking. Living here has helped us maintain a car-light lifestyle.

It is interesting to see how Middleton, Wisconsin has fared in this particular survey the last 3 times it was conducted. Middleton was #7 in 2005; not even in the top 100 last year, and now it is #1.

I live in the city of Middleton and have lived here for over 15 years. In my opinion, for my tastes, Middleton is a very nice place to live.

Middleton is changing relatively fast now due largely to the growth of its immediate neighbor to the east - Madison. However, in my opinion, Middleton’s changes over the last 3 years have not been so drastic as to move it from #7 in 2005 to off the list completely in 2006 (i.e. over 100) or from off the list completely to top city this year.

Because Money Magazine’s ranking of Middleton’s livability over the last few years has significantly varied without an associated significant change in the living conditions in Middleton, I’d advise that survey readers thoroughly investigate and understand Money Magazine’s survey method before making any important decisions based ANY city’s actual survey ranking.

In the interest of fairness and completeness, I would note that Middleton’s ranking could have changed because OTHER city’s livability measures have significantly changed without Middleton experiencing much change. I believe that is possible, but given the radical variation of Middleton’s ranking, it seems unlikely that this would explain such a wide range of variation.

There goes the neighborhood… as a resident of Middleton, I’ve seen it boom in the last years into two distinct areas: the old, and the new. Some call that diverse offerings, some call that bi-polar. I call it yuppie-ville meets beer and brats. Where else can you shoot some pool at the Blue Chalk Club, then have some wings at Quaker Steak & Lube, while your spouse gets completely remade at the numerous cosmetic surgery/spas across the street? The C of C is very pro-business development, much to the chagrine of surrounding communities and some locals. Welcome to America. It’s a nice place to live and sure beats the alternatives…. ‘nuf said.

I’m sorry that all those bashing the city of Middleton have had bad experiences here. I have live in Middleton for 5 years and don’t plan on ever moving. The location is great! I can drive 10-15 minutes to downtown Madison, where I work. I can walk to a beautiful new network of trails for biking, running. I can look out my window and see lake Mendota and the state Capital building in the distance. Do you enjoy golf? This area has many beautiful golf courses nearby. The south side of Middleton has become a business mecca. I seems to me that Middleton is doing a lot of things right, and is growing in a possitve manner.

Hmmm, most of Rose W.’s “complaints” about Middleton sound like the very reasons one would want to live there.

A government that does and spends the minimum amount possible? What a welcome and refreshing surprise from nearby Madison! A police force that upholds the law? Also a great change compared to Madison.

A city government that realizes that its business should do just the minimum necessary to serve the needs of its citizens and not act as a force for social justice is to be applauded, not derided. For those who love such things, that’s why Madison is but a short drive away.

Middleton is the best place ever!

I am pleased to see Middleton recognized as a great city. I moved here two years ago for the high quality schools, great small downtown area, variety of housing options, and the wonderful quality park and trail system. It is close to Madison, but has it’s own good restaurants and shopping. People are friendly and welcoming. My kids can bike and walk anywhere-it’s safe. A great place to raise a family.

Middleton is the best place to live! There is a great school district which was also given an award for No Child Left Behind for exceeding expectations, very few other schools can have that to brag about. When kids graduate from the high school they are proud to say they went to school there instead of saying they went to a Madison school, because they know they recieved a real education.

The police force is very helpful. And there is NO traffic problem unless you are causing it.

Rose - You should not be complaining about Middleton when do DO NOT live in Middleton. Last I checked Cross Plains wasn’t Middleton nor was it on the list. Jealously?

Best thing about Middleton: activities for all ages–children, tweens, teens, adults, & senior citizens. (the Senior Center, library programs, the Youth Center, etc.) Innovative thinking: a peer court for young offenders, a skateboard park

I saw that you had picked Middleton, Wisconsin as the #1 small town in America to live in. That is very difficult to believe. Either the country has gone down hill faster than is being reported, or someone was blindfolded in your office and threw a dart at a map on the wall to pick your #1 spot.

In the first place, Middleton is not a small town; it is just a part of Madison. If someone did not see the welcome signs by the road, they would think that they were still in Madison. Visually, Middleton is not distinct from the parts of Madison which are around it.

That said, it is certainly not one of the more desirable parts of greater Madison.

Madison is widely know for its progressive views, its commitments to social and cultural progress, to its determination that those who are disadvantaged will not be further taken advantage of, and to its belief that local government is supposed to make life better and easier for the citizens which it serves.

None of these things can be said for Middleton, a community where I lived for 6 years in the Nineties and was heartily glad to be away from (although the community I live in now, about 6 miles west of Middleton, has the unfortunate burden of sharing the same school district as Middleton).

Middleton has horrible traffic problems, a police force which acts like it was trained in a totalitarian state, a school system which is markedly inferior to that of Madison, pervading prejudices against minorities, questionable garbage and trash services, and a city government known throughout Wisconsin as being so tight that it is only with great emotional difficulty that it can bring itself to appropriate money for the most basic of services. If the city government of Madison is legitimately and actively concerned about the welfare of its citizens, the city government of Middleton is of a completely opposite frame of mind. If state law did not require municipalities to provide certain basic services, there is little question that the city government of Middleton would not provide them and would consider itself to have operated wisely and progressively in the bargain. In a metropolitan area known and applauded widely for an unshakable commitment to the welfare of all of its citizens, Middleton stands out in its complete opposite views and practices.

I have been a physician for more than 30 years in the county where Middleton and Madison are located (Dane County); I grew up here, as did my parents. For an organization with as much scope and influence as yours to say that a place like Middleton is a desirable place to live is terribly discouraging.

Rose W., Cross Plains, Wisconsin

I live in Middleton. It’s not just a spare bedroom for Madison (a wonderful city and grand place to live, but different in character from Middleton).
Somehow Middleton has maintained a small town identity and “feel” with some “small city” amenities.
The school system is superb. Strong commitment to the arts when other schools are slashing arts budgets.
Could do a better job of meeting the needs of gifted students. Need more honors and AP courses.
Housing? Whew! It’s out of control. Ten years ago a young family could find an affordable starter home. Not any longer.
Recent gentrification and upgrading of the downtown - an historic area dating from the mid-1850s. Some lovely restaurants, coffee shops (how about a small grocery and a nice book store?) A few new galleries, gift shops. It’s becoming a destination for diners and meet-for-coffee or wine.
Also, a collaborative effort between the school district, city, and a non-profit arts group has brought some good music and theatre touring companies to the Middleton Performing Arts Center.
Complaints:
City government is notoriously inept. The Plan commission is run by a bunch of the mayor’s cronies…a few years ago this commission came within inches of approving construction of a 160 foot telecommunications tower in the center of the historic downtown neighborhood. Did I say inept?
The same government doesn’t understand the need for better public transportation. Since bus service hours are very limited (if you don’t make the 5:30 pm bus you’re stranded until 7!) many folks don’t use it. So, the City government concludes that people must not want or need better service. Yes, I did say inept.

Is this a good place to live? Yes. Schools. Sense of community. Lots of good green space (and not County-run as one comment asserted).

Is this the best place to live in America? No. Out of control housing prices effectively bar entry to young families and middle-low income people. High taxes coupled with those escalating housing values are literally taxing our elders out of their homes.

I’ve worked in Middleton for 8 years & I do think it is a great town–real estate prices are a lot higher than in surrounding areas, though–I bought a house half an hour away because it was much more affordable. Middleton has great restaurants, a fantastic library, & lots of very educated, caring people–only downsides are traffic, high real estate prices, & few historic buildings.

Middleton, Wisconsin is the best small town in the United States to live in?

What a load of horse manure.

In the first place Middleton is not a distinct small town; it is just a part of Madison. If you did not see the signs, you would not know that you were not in Madison. If you are naming small towns to recommend to people, how about having the grace to find and name distinct small towns and not just parts of larger metropolitan areas, largely indistinguishable from any other part?

Did you people drive around Middleton? It is a teeth-grinding chore to drive through Middleton at any time of the day or night, with far too many traffic lights which the city is too cheap to have co-ordinated. We have to drive through Middleton every day on our way to work in Madison, and we have to go through a total of 8 stop lights. In 3 years of driving at all hours of the day and night, we have NEVER not had to stop at at least 5 of these. It is so bad that we started to keep track a few years ago of how many we had to stop at. We drive down the main street in town, and most times we have to stop at 7, or all eight. It is ridiculous - and all the more so because Middleton could easily cure the traffic messes and irritations which it causes if it wanted to do so.

And then there is always Middleton’s gestapo police force, known throughout the Madison area for its pettiness, its brutality, its surliness, and its essential disregard for basic Constitutional requirements. This, in addition to Middleton’s being one of those places which intentionally raises revenue with speed traps and other similar tricks.

Most of the parks you mentioned are actually county owned and paid for; and Middleton, notoriously tight-fisted, had to be pulled kicking and screaming into even paying for a small part of them. Left to its own devices, Middleton would have not had them at all.

We are professional people in our mid- 50s. About five years ago our office was getting bigger in numbers, and we had to find a bigger place for it. We have a staff of about 30 people, all college-educated, and we polled where they might want to move the office within the greater Madison area. There was not a single vote for Middleton, including from any of the 6/7 people who actually lived there at the time, or from the 10/11 people who had lived there in the past, including ourselves.

Do you people actually visit the places on your list? Middleton is neither an attractive nor an appealing place, and if you actually consider it to be the #1 small town in the United States to live, God help us about the rest of the places on your list.

Charlie S.

I’ve lived in Middleton for 13 years and love it!! The schools are great, there are varied neighborhoods (from new subdivisions to quaint older homes), and its close proximity to Madison (UW sports & many activities)really make it a great place to live. We can go to a UW football game or basketball game and be home in 15 minutes. Also many good cultural options at the Overture Center.

What really makes Middleton a great place to live is it’s proximity to Madison (they border each other). Madison is one of the nicest cities in the country and that makes any community around it all the better.

What do you think of the No. 1 town on this year’s Best Places to Live list?

What makes it a great American town?

Are real estate prices reasonable? Tell us what you think.