MADISON, WIS.

BEST CITY FOR EMPTY-NESTERS

Population: 519,330
Cost-of-Living Index: 96 (100 being national average)
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 34.3%
Bohemian Indicator: 128
Creative-Class Salary Growth (2000-2005): 17.9%

Madison has always lured back hometown kids and UW-Madison grads, but increasingly it's attracting empty nesters who are ready to trade in the suburbs for easy urban living. Madison offers plenty of amenities -- the arts, ethnic restaurants, pubs and shopping -- and includes the city's four in-town lakes plus many parks and trails. Although the state government and university still dominate employment, Madison is becoming a biotech center, too.

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