Wisconsin’s Best City for an Active Lifestyle, New Survey Finds

The website Portfoliohub recently evaluated some of the most populated cities to determine which ones are best suited to an active lifestyle. I’m not very active; I’m out of breath even saying these words. They looked at a whole bunch of things. I don’t want to get too technical with phrases like “a whole bunch of stuff”, but I may have already done that.

So, what is this “a whole bunch of stuff”?

One of the things they analyzed was the cost of being active and getting involved in Madison. For example, the cost of joining a gym. The price of things like equipment, running shoes, tennis balls, or shopping or even bowling fees.

They also looked at the number of fitness stores, sports clubs and intramural leagues around Madison. They took into account who used these places and what other activities Madison residents engaged in, like walking, biking, and working out at home.

Is there more to do?

Yes, Wallethub also looked at how easy it is to just get out in and around Madison and get active. They took into account how much parks, swimming poolsbasketball courts and even things like cycle paths.

Would it be shocking to learn that they also take air quality into account? This is sometimes essential when you are outside. Spoiler alert, fresh air is one way to increase your score.

What’s the score ?

Ultimately, Wallethub offers the top 100 cities for an active and healthy lifestyle. Luck is with Madison. They fall at lucky number 13, which is a sweet spot. You’re in good company with outdoorsy states like Washington, California and Colorado,

Are there any anchors to all this fun? Well, kinda, I’m the one typing. All this fun and healthy living isn’t for everyone. Sedentary people can be a bit of a downer in the scores department. Officials who analyze this data say factors such as inactive people count twice, meaning they can have a bigger impact on the city’s score.

Madison, Wisconsin

It is known for being a busy city with a large number of bicycle commuters and many people walking to work. Analysts placed more emphasis on things like bike paths and fitness centers. The more outdoor activity options, the higher a city scores

Madison’s affordable fitness options, like gyms and activewear, likely help it maintain a strong ranking here.

Although some other budgetary factors (like the cost of sports clubs or tennis court rentals) do not make Madison the cheapest, it still offers strong opportunities for people to get involved in fitness and sports.