The 10 Best Assisted Living Facilities in Madison, WI for 2023

Located in south-central Wisconsin, Madison makes a particularly good home for active seniors who enjoy a vibrant urban culture, as it’s the state capital and home to the main campus of the University of Wisconsin. The high percentage of college students in Madison means that the senior population is a bit lower than the national average; seniors account for roughly 31,000 of its 269,840 citizens. Madison is conveniently drivable from three other major Midwest destinations, with Milwaukee, Green Bay and Chicago all under 2.5 hours away.

Seniors who require assistance with the tasks of everyday living but who don’t need around-the-clock medical care may opt to move into assisted living facilities. These communities usually offer an array of amenities that include meal services, social experiences and entertainment options. In Madison, the $4,800 monthly cost for assisted living is just slightly higher than the national average.

This guide discusses some considerations for seniors thinking about moving into an assisted living facility in Madison. In addition to detailing costs for assisted living and related long-term care options, it examines free local resources for senior citizens and some specific benefits and drawbacks to life in this bustling Wisconsin city.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services is responsible for licensing and certifying community-based residential facilities throughout the state. Wisconsin law defines CBRFs as places where five or more unrelated adults receive care and treatment that goes beyond simple room and board but does not rise to the level of nursing home care.

• Summers in the Madison area are pleasantly warm, with highs averaging 80 degrees from June through August. This northern state is ideal for seniors who enjoy the winter season. Average highs remain below freezing from December to February, and the city sees 42 inches of snow a year, quite a bit more than the national average of 28. 
• Madison is a relatively safe place for seniors to call home. The city’s crime rate of 188 per 100,000 people is lower than the national average, as is the property crime rate of 1,644 per 100,000 people. Property crime, in particular, steadily dropped in the area through the 2010s.
• Living in Madison comes with tax benefits and drawbacks alike. On one hand, Wisconsin’s income tax rate of 6.3% is notably above the national average of 4.6%, making yearly tax bills higher. On the other, Madison’s combined sales tax rate of 5.43% is among the lowest in the nation, so day-to-day tax costs are less of an issue.
• In general, Madison’s cost of living is in line with the national average, but costs associated with specific indices vary widely. For example, the cost of health care in Madison is just 86.3 on a scale where 100 represents the U.S. average. Transportation is also quite affordable at 85.8. However, at 111.1, the costs of housing in Madison are considerably above national norms, as are the costs of utilities at 107.5. 
• Madison is a member of the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities, which focuses on improving livability for older adults. The network helps promote local initiatives such as health services, encourages civic participation and supports green outdoor spaces that provide areas for exercise and communing with nature.

According to data from Genworth’s Cost of Care Survey, assisted living care in Madison costs an average of $4,800 a month. That’s slightly higher than the Wisconsin average of $4,600 and the U.S. average of $4,500.

Madison’s monthly cost of $4,800 for assisted living puts it roughly in the middle of the pack for Wisconsin. Prices are generally lower in the northern and western parts of the state, with Wausau and La Crosse both averaging under $4,300 a month. Costs spike in southeast Wisconsin, where Milwaukee averages $5,324 a month, and Racine leads the state at $5,450.

Seniors living in Madison may also choose from an array of other long-term care possibilities. The $2,019 monthly outlay for an adult day health care facility is thousands of dollars lower than that for assisted living. For approximately $500 more than assisted living, seniors may set up home-based care through homemaker or home health aide services; both average $5,339 monthly. The most intensive and most expensive care is available in nursing homes. In Madison, seniors can expect to pay about $8,851 monthly for a semiprivate room and $9,551 monthly for a private one.

While many families use their own funds or personal assets to pay for assisted living, there are plenty of additional options to cover these costs. Some additional ways to finance assisted living costs include:

• Veterans Benefits
• Life Insurance Policy
• Long-Term Care Insurance
• Reverse Mortgage

For more information about different ways to finance assisted living, visit our Assisted Living in Wisconsin page.