How’s Madison nowadays?

Hello Madisonians,

I grew up in Madjson and graduated from West High School +15 years ago; lived nearby on the west side. I “foolishly” decided not to attend UW - but had a lot of bona fide ties to the University through my family - and moved my life out to the coasts and abroad. I’ve only been back to Madison once or twice since then, last time being a very brief couple days 8 or so years ago.

I’m curious, for those that have seen Madison evolve - how has Madison changed? How’s the built environment, culture, cost of living relative to incomes? Life has kept me away from the Midwest, and most of friends and family have left. I find myself missing Madison, but I also wonder if it’s more nostalgia for my youth rather than Madison itself.