Nothing beats the Madison skyline at sunset. | Photo by @honeyoliveblaire
When it comes to rent, less is typically better and these 608 zip codes reportedly offer the best shot at finding a deal.
A new study from Rent Cafe ranked three Madison zip codes within the national top 15 for luxury apartments at lower rent prices. The apartment-search website analyzed data across 10,000 zip codes to create a top 100 list, and this is where 608 landed.
53718
This zip code was ranked No. 5, offering high-end units at an average price of $1,608 — $468 less than the city’s renting median.
53717
This zone earned the No. 6 ranking on the list with high-end units at an average price of $1,612 — $464 less than the city’s renting median.
53719
Coming in at No. 15 is this code where average high-end rent prices are $1,706 — $369 less than the city’s renting median.
Duluth FC vs. Forward Madison FC | 6 p.m. | Breese Stevens Field | $18+ | Our local soccer team looks to snap a three-game losing streak in this home match against a Minnesota-based squad.
Friday, March 21
SCIENCE! Themed Trivia | 7-9 p.m. | Delta Beer Lab | Free | The top three teams will earn prizes in this themed trivia night where questions will range from recent discoveries to longstanding facts.
Saturday, March 22
Late Winter Market | 8 a.m. | Garver Feed Mill | Cost of purchases | This is one of the final weekends of the winter market where you can shop from 50+ local vendors with food, handmade goods, and home decor.
Sunday, March 23
Scenic Stroll at the Arboretum | 1-2 p.m. | UW-Madison Arboretum | Free | Join a gently paced walk that features a new theme each time, such as plants, ecology, or animals.
Monday, March 24
Lego Night | 6:30-8 p.m. | Working Draft Beer Co. | Free | Families are invited to compete in three rounds of Lego building with all supplies provided by the brewery.
Tuesday, March 25
Botanical Block Printing with Bernie + Zuzu | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Pinney Library | Free | Learn how to capture plants and turn them into beautiful art creations via an ancient method.
Fun for all awaits at the Harley-Davidson Museum. | Photos courtesy of the Harley-Davidson Museum
Searching for the ultimate family road trip destination during Spring Break? Head to the Harley-Davidson Museum.
From interactive exhibits to legendary motorcycles, there’s something for every age to explore. Whether your little one dreams of the open road or your pre-teen loves hands-on fun, this isn’t your typical museum experience — it’s an adventure.
Experience the thrill, history, and freedom Harley-Davidson embodies, and make memories that will last a lifetime. Start planning your visit to the H-D Museum.
This Old House named Madison as the fifth best city in the US for raising a family. The study cited 608’s walkability scores, rent costs, and local parks as contributing factors to the high ranking. Madison is the only Wisconsin city in the top 50.
Sports
The 2025 NCAA Tournament is here. Wisconsin (No. 3) plays Montana (No. 14) at 1:30 p.m. today. Marquette (No. 7) also made the dance as and plays New Mexico (No. 10) at 7:25 p.m. on Friday, March 21. Here’s a digital bracket before the madness begins.
State
Wisconsin’s highway system was ranked No. 26 in the nation for overall cost-effectiveness and condition. Last year, the Badger State was ranked No. 33, but this year saw great improvements to areas like maintenance disbursement, which was ranked top 10 in the US.
Featured
We may be in the Cheese State, but Madison is home to “The Onion.” This satirical newspaper got its start right here in the city and now offers hilarious headlines each day about world happenings. Read about its humble beginnings, as told by an original staffer. (Wisconsin State Journal)
Small Biz
Good things come in small packages. We’ll be celebrating Small Business Week, an initiative to highlight our city’s local enterprises from Sunday, May 4 to Saturday, May 10. If you own a local small business, join us by filling out a form about your business.
Stat
0%. That’s how much interest this card offers into 2026 — no wonder experts call it “hands down” one of “the best balance transfer cards."*
Outdoors
With spring comes outdoor concerts + music festivals — luckily, these hearing aids are the world’s first with multi-stream processing, designed to help you engage in conversations effortlessly (even in noisy environments, like that must-see show).*
Stat
Every six seconds. That’s how often a pet owner spends $1,000+ in unforeseen care costs for their fur baby. Pet insurance could cover up to 90% of these costs — find the right plan.*
Job
We’re hiring a creative and dynamic Newsletter Editor to join the team for our sister market, NOVAtoday, and craft daily, hyper-local content for Northern Virginia. We’ve got the perks just for you: competitive salary, 401K with company match of 4%, and so much more. Apply now.
Biz
Calling all business owners. For a limited time, we’re offering 15% off your first advertising purchase on our self-service ad portal. No long-term contract required — simply use the code NEW15 at checkout to redeem the discount.
Category (Paid)
Jobs
💼 Hiring, simplified
Find candidates who want to work right here, right now. | Gif by 6AM City
Small business owners, employers, and hiring managers — we understand that finding the right candidate can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. That’s why we designed 608today Job Board to reduce hiring barriers and seamlessly connect you with top local talent.
To get started, create an account and post your first listing for free — it takes less than five minutes. Bonus: Level up your listing with a Featured Job Post and your job will be featured right here in the 608today newsletter.
Don’t forget to say “Hi” to the Boaz Mastodon while at the UW Geology Museum. | Photo via UW Geology Museum
Museums are the cultural hubs of Madison. Whether you’re looking to learn something new about the 608 or plotting a way to spend your Saturday afternoon, here are 12 museums to visit in and around our city.
Science
Geology Museum, 1215 W. Dayton St. | Free This place rocks. Check out ancient rocks from Wisconsin’s volcanic past, preserved remains of corals and jellyfish, and stand beneath mastodon tusks from the Ice Age.
Arts
James Watrous Gallery, Third floor of Overture Center | Free
Get a bird’s eye view of the Overture’s rotunda while browsing a rotating display of art exhibits.
Local lore
McFarland Historical Society Museum, 5814 Main St., McFarland | Free
Immerse yourself in Norwegian culture by walking through the cobbler shop, kitchen, and toy displays that recreate slices of life circa the 19th and 20th centuries.
Hey there, Madison. I’m Mitch and I’m officially taking over this newsletter in April. I hail from Big Ten country, so I’m familiar with the Badgers. I’m also trying to learn as much about the city as I can until then, so send me your best tips.
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