Just a year ago, Wisconsin's capital was ranked fifth and the city convened a committee (a very Madison thing to do, by the way) to figure out how to do better.
In determining the most liveable places in America, the online magazine measures the local economy, health, housing, civic engagement, education, amenities, diversity, and infrastructure.
Lakes surrounding MadTown give the city some sparkle, some recreational opportunities, and tranquil shores. It's a pretty city - even if the lakes are frozen solid and the trees draped in layers of snow.
Year after year, the denizens of Madison seem to prize the pursuit of healthy living. You see us at the Farmer's Markets. You'll find us jogging or biking around the city. Of course, a lot of bars and great restaurants thrive here as a city of foodies - so we don't take this health thing too seriously!
A great university can do a lot for a community and it seems to me that the University of Wisconsin really defines this place. The vibe of education and the spirit brought by tens of thousands of young people inhabit every street corner.
For a mid-sized city, there seem to be plenty of world class attractions. The Overture Center, the city's Symphony Orchestra, and Summer Concerts on the Square provide the bass line for city-wide and neighborhood music festivals.
Eau Claire (59) and La Crosse (95) are the other Wisconsin cities on the list. We lived close to Eau Claire for more than 10 years. It's smaller than Madison, but has grown into a full-fledged place live in the Chippewa Valley.
Growing up 40 miles south of here - Madison always seemed a little mysterious. I never spent a lot of time here.
To me, it was the place some of my high school friends went on Friday nights with pockets full of toast to watch the midnight screening of the "Rocky Horror Picture Show."
The idea of Madison has always intrigued me.
I found it shortly after our move, listening to intelligent political conversations in a diner on a Saturday morning.
The essence of the city can be found in the free city Zoo and Botanical Gardens - a civic ideal planted early in the last century that the best of what Madison has to offer should be available to all.
Like any city, there are warts, problems, and many things that could make this an even more vibrant place. There are continuing challenges to improve public education, foster job creation, and reduce crime.
That right there might be another reason Madison biked to the top of this list - people here will continue to wring their hands, form committees, and urge their fellow citizens to pull together to make these things happen too.
I can take no credit for Madison's place as most liveable city in the United States, but I can tell you that two years into our residence here that the moniker sure does fit.
There are lots of polls and surveys out there:
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