What Does $400K Buy You Across Madison Neighborhoods?
One of the most common questions buyers ask is some version of: "My budget is $400K — what can I actually get?" The answer in Madison depends enormously on which neighborhood you're looking in.
We pulled every closed sale in the $350K–$450K range across Madison neighborhoods in 2026 (minimum 3 sales per neighborhood to keep the data meaningful). Here's what the numbers show.
Data source: SCWMLS closed sales, January–October 2026. Neighborhoods with fewer than 3 closed sales in this price range are excluded.
The core tradeoff: location vs. space
The clearest pattern in the data is a tradeoff between location and square footage. Near-campus and isthmus neighborhoods consistently deliver smaller homes — often 1,000–1,350 sqft in houses built in the 1920s through 1950s. East and west side neighborhoods deliver significantly more space, often 1,600–1,800+ sqft in homes built from the 1960s onward, at similar price points.
Neither is better — it depends entirely on what you're optimizing for.
Most space for your money
These neighborhoods delivered the largest homes in the $350K–$450K range:
| Neighborhood | Avg Sqft | Avg Beds | Avg Year Built | Avg DOM | Avg Sale Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Lake Mendota | 2,024 | 3.0 | 1993 | 60d | $426K |
| Tamarack Trails | 2,012 | 2.7 | 1978 | 19d | $419K |
| Heritage Heights | 1,986 | 3.3 | 1973 | 14d | $417K |
| Burke Heights | 1,930 | 4.0 | 1963 | 37d | $381K |
| Stone Meadows | 1,874 | 3.0 | 2000 | 16d | $424K |
| Sprecher East | 1,821 | 3.0 | 2007 | 16d | $431K |
Burke Heights stands out: 4 bedrooms, 1,930 sqft, averaging $381K — the best value for space in the dataset. The tradeoff is 37 days on market, suggesting buyers have more negotiating room here.
Sprecher East had 9 closed sales — the most volume of any large-sqft neighborhood — with homes averaging 2007 construction and 16 days on market. Solid demand, newer stock.
Fastest-moving neighborhoods
Days on market tells you where competition is sharpest. These neighborhoods saw homes move quickly — in some cases, before many buyers even had a chance to tour:
| Neighborhood | Avg DOM | Avg Sqft | Avg Sale-to-List | Avg Sale Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midvale Heights | 3d | 1,262 | above list | $405K |
| Prairie Hills | 4d | 1,745 | above list | $418K |
| Glacier Ridge | 4d | 1,585 | below list | $438K |
| Emerson East | 4d | 1,252 | above list | $407K |
| Sherman | 5d | 1,585 | above list | $389K |
| Greenbush | 5d | 1,112 | above list | $408K |
| Lake Edge | 6d | 1,453 | above list | $400K |
| Bay Creek | 6d | 1,093 | above list | $394K |
Prairie Hills (4 DOM, selling above list) and Midvale Heights (3 DOM, selling above list) show the strongest demand signals in the dataset. Both are west side neighborhoods with good school district locations.
Glacier Ridge is the exception — 4 DOM but selling below list, suggesting newer construction where sellers are pricing to move quickly rather than fielding multiple offers.
Best value in established neighborhoods
Some of the most interesting entries are established Madison neighborhoods where $400K buys a smaller but well-located home — and where demand is consistently strong:
| Neighborhood | Avg Sqft | Avg Year Built | Avg DOM | Avg Sale Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marquette | 1,344 | 1925 | 4d | $410K |
| Schenk-Atwood | 1,083 | 1916 | 27d | $414K |
| Eastmorland | 1,225 | 1962 | 17d | $395K |
| Westmorland | 1,057 | 1943 | 6d | $408K |
| Emerson East | 1,252 | 1923 | 4d | $407K |
| Bay Creek | 1,093 | 1929 | 6d | $394K |
| Greenbush | 1,112 | 1951 | 5d | $408K |
Marquette averaged 4 days on market and $410K — for 1,344 sqft in a 100-year-old home. That's the premium for walkability, character, and proximity to the lake path and Willy Street.
Eastmorland sold at an average 7% above list price — the strongest above-list performance in the dataset. Only 8 closed sales in the range, but the signal is clear: when Eastmorland homes are priced at $400K, buyers compete.
Schenk-Atwood averaged 27 days — slower than most isthmus neighborhoods — likely because newer buyers find it harder to evaluate the 100-year-old housing stock without experience.
The outlier: Cardinal Glenn
**Cardinal Glenn stands out as an excellent option for buyers prioritizing newer construction. Homes average 2016 builds and 1,597 square feet. While the far southwest location means properties stay on the market longer (averaging 93 days) and sell below list price, that slower pace gives buyers rare breathing room.
What this means for buyers
At $400K in Madison, you're essentially choosing between:
- ~1,000–1,350 sqft in a character neighborhood close to the isthmus, likely 80–100 years old, moving in 4–8 days, often above list
- ~1,600–2,000 sqft on the east or west side in a home from the 1960s–2000s, moving in 10–40 days, closer to list price
Neither is the wrong answer. The first choice is for buyers who prioritize walkability, neighborhood identity, and proximity to the lakes. The second is for buyers who need more space, newer mechanical systems, or a particular school district.
Browse active listings by neighborhood →
"Days on market" (DOM) reflects the SCWMLS definition: the number of days a listing was actively marketed in Active, Offer-Show, or Offer-Bump status. "Neighborhoods" in this report refers to official City of Madison neighborhood associations and community organizations — not all Madison addresses fall within a named neighborhood boundary. Data reflects SCWMLS closed sales from January through October 2026 in the $350,000–$450,000 price range. Neighborhoods with fewer than 3 closed sales in this range are excluded. Averages can be influenced by small sample sizes — use this data as directional context, not a precise prediction of any individual home's value. For current active listings and live market data, see our market data page. Madison Abodes offers 1% listing and 2% buyer representation. Contact Brian →
Have questions about buying or selling in Madison?
Contact Us