Madison Neighborhoods and Historic Districts
Updated
Short answer
Madison has five local historic districts regulated by the Landmarks Commission, plus National Register districts that are honorary. Across the city, 54% of 128,261 households rent and the median home was built in 1980, but it varies a lot: in 53703, 85.4% rent, and in 53718 the median home dates from 2006. Each page below has its own numbers and rules.
Regulated by the Landmarks Commission
The five local historic districts
Exterior alterations, new construction and demolitions in these districts need a Certificate of Approval. Clearing a house's contents does not; tearing down a garage or porch does.
- Mansion HillDesignated 1976; period 1850 to 193097.7% rent
- Third Lake RidgeDesignated 1979; period 1850 to 192971.9% rent
- University HeightsDesignated 1985; period 1893 to 192875.8% rent
- Marquette BungalowsDesignated 1993; period 1924 to 193071.9% rent
- First SettlementDesignated 2002; period 1850 to 1930
Honorary listing
National Register historic districts
| District | Listed | Median built (tract) | Rent (tract) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Langdon Street | June 26, 1986 | 1965 | 97.7% |
| Fourth Lake Ridge | February 26, 1998 | 1938 | 73.7% |
| Jenifer-Spaight | October 13, 2004 | 1947 | 71.9% |
| Orton Park | October 31, 1988 | 1947 | 71.9% |
| Sherman Avenue | March 22, 1988 | 1938 | 73.7% |
| Wingra Park | October 14, 1999 | 1950 | 74.7% |
| West Lawn Heights | March 5, 1998 | 1938 | 20% |
| Nakoma | February 26, 1998 | 1950 | 17.5% |
| Sunset Hills | June 15, 2015 | 1954 | 37% |
| University Hill Farms | August 11, 2015 | 1957 | 18% |
Sources: Wikipedia, NRHP listings in Madison; U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year (tract at each district's mapped center)
By ZIP code
Madison ZIP code areas
| ZIP | Households | Rent | Median built | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 53703 | 20,373 | 85.4% | 1979 | Monona Terrace and Wisconsin State Capitol |
| 53704 | 22,186 | 47.8% | 1971 | Olbrich Botanical Gardens and East Towne Mall |
| 53705 | 12,253 | 50.3% | 1967 | Vel Phillips Memorial High School and Hilldale Shopping Center |
| 53711 | 23,377 | 37.6% | 1977 | Edgewood University |
| 53713 | 11,908 | 67.5% | 1979 | Alliant Energy Center and University of Wisconsin–Madison Arboretum |
| 53714 | 7,862 | 44.6% | 1969 | Madison, Town of Blooming Grove |
| 53715 | 5,346 | 79.9% | 1970 | Madison |
| 53716 | 8,302 | 28.1% | 1965 | La Follette High School |
| 53717 | 6,610 | 46.7% | 1992 | Madison, Middleton |
| 53718 | 8,081 | 44.8% | 2006 | Madison, Town of Burke, Town of Blooming Grove |
| 53719 | 15,913 | 50.7% | 1998 | West Towne Mall |
| 53726 | 2,527 | 67.5% | 1959 | Madison West High School |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year, ZIP code tabulation areas; Census TIGERweb, 2020 ZCTA layer
Anywhere in Madison
From a Mansion Hill apartment to a far east side garage. Tell us the address and what needs to go.