Sunset Hills

On Madison’s west side, 3 miles from downtown and less than a mile and a half from the university, Sunset Hills offers quiet but convenient suburban living. “It’s an established neighborhood close to UW-Madison and the university hospital,” says Evans Fomunyoh. The Lane Estate realtor, who has been a figure in the Madison real estate scene for going on seven years, says that its location is one of its most appealing features. “Sunset Hills is in a very convenient area,” he says. “Not only are you close to the university and the hospital, but you’re also close to the retail along University Avenue. Plus, there are lots of parks within walking distance and tons of trees, which helps keep noise to a minimum. This is the part of town you want to live in if you want to be close to the hustle and bustle but not in the middle of it.”

Contemporary, Split Level and ranch-style homes built between the 1950s and ‘60s line these shade-dappled residential streets. Many were designed to mimic the neighborhood’s natural landscape and topography, in the style of organic architecture that famous American architect and designer, Frank Lloyd Wright, pioneered. In fact, a few of the homes throughout Sunset Hills were designed by a colleague of his, Marshall Erdman. One of Erdman’s quad-level custom homes, which was built in 1952 and features long horizontal windows and original stone and woodwork throughout the interior, sold for about $925,000 in June 2023. “It can get very ritzy over here on the west side of town,” says Fomunyoh. He adds that while $900,000 to $1 million is definitely on the higher end of the price range in Sunset Hills, it’s by no means unusual to see homes listed for that much. “Prices go from $400,000 to $1 million. It’s quite a bit pricier than the east side of Madison,” he says. “Part of what you’re paying for is the glam. The neighborhood is known for its really cool midcentury modern houses and big-name architects.” The median here hovers around the $515,000 mark, well over the median for Madison.

Sunset Hills students go to Midvale Elementary, Hamilton Middle and West High School, part of the Madison Metropolitan School District. The district is the second largest in the state and very highly rated. Midvale earned a B-plus grade from Niche in 2023. Hamilton earned an A, and West High earned an A-plus that same year. Teens interested in science, technology, engineering and math can earn college credit for courses taken in the high school’s no-cost Early College STEM Academy, a program partnership between the district and Madison College. Older students pursuing a higher education enjoy a short commute to class at the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus, just a mile northeast across Campus Drive.

With Reservoir Park between Larkin and Glenway Streets at the heart of the neighborhood and Hoyt Park curved around Owen Parkway less than a quarter-mile northeast, Sunset Hills offers easy access to the great outdoors. The two parks have everything from playgrounds and hiking trails to picnic shelters and sports fields. There are also towering trees in both parks, spaced perfectly for slacklining and hammocking. And while sidewalks throughout the neighborhood are inconsistent, the two parks are within easy walking distance. Just over 2 miles east, on the northern banks of Lake Wingra, Henry Vilas Park and Zoo offer even more opportunities for outdoor recreation. Established in the early 1900s on land donated by the Vilas family in honor of their son Henry, the park is one of Madison’s oldest. It’s got everything from a sandy (swimmable) beach and fishing piers to an “Old Woman in a Shoe” themed playground. The zoo at the heart has remained free to the public for more than 100 years with community support. It’s one of the few remaining admission-free zoos in the country.

Sunset Hills locals are spoiled for choice when it comes to shopping options. At the Hilldale Shopping Center, which locals call the Hilldale Mall, there’s everything from Target and Free People to Lululemon and Apple. Just a few blocks east down University Avenue, there’s also a Whole Foods. Both the mall and Whole Foods are less than 2 miles from home. Trader Joe’s is also nearby, off Regent Street, less than a mile and a half east of the neighborhood.

Written By

Megan Quintin

Photography Contributed By

Kyle Arn

Video By

David Fritzson