It isn’t easy to get what you want and be an apartment renter in Madison, WI.
The city suffers from an “amenity gap” according to a new study from Apartment List. In other words, there is a mix match between the amenities renters are looking for, and what apartment communities provide.
The website analyzed user and property data and found that out of 70 metro areas, renters in 59 cities have an amenity gap.
“We categorize Madison as having mix-matched amenities,” said Chris Salviati, housing economist at Apartment List. “Renters are likely to have a below average chance of finding all the amenities they want, and an above average chance of ending up with extra amenities that they don’t want.”
Case in point, renters in the Madison metro struggle the most to find in-unit laundry. The study found 63 percent of renters want an apartment with in-unit laundry, but the amenity is only available in 13 percent of properties. Within the city limits itself the gap is even bigger, with 66 percent of renters seeking in-unit laundry compared to just 9 percent that offer it. Other amenities that are highly sought but hard to find in Mad Town: air conditioning, dishwasher, parking and a pool.
On the flip-side 49 percent of metro apartments are cat-friendly while only 21 percent of seekers are looking for a place where they can cohabitate with Mittens. Hardwood floors, dog-friendly, gym and balconies are widely available, but not in demand.
The chart below details the gap between what renters want and what properties have available in Madison, WI.
When compared to other cities, Madison apartments seekers had lower demand for amenities in general.
“Renters in Madison are less demanding than those in other parts of the country, with renter demand below the national average for 6 of the 10 amenities we analyzed,” said Salviati.
Finally, here is a look at the best and worst cities for amenities, to put the situation in Madison into some perspective:
