Monroe, Wisconsin offers a friendly small‑city vibe with a walkable downtown, local breweries and restaurants, seasonal festivals, and easy access to parks, trails and nearby “cheese country,” making it a comfortable, affordable base for multi‑week assignments where evenings and weekends feel pleasantly active rather than dead.
For bigger-city options, Madison is about 50 miles away and Rockford, IL (or Janesville) roughly 40–45 miles, so weekend trips for museums, live music, major dining and regional airports are an easy option while you return to a quieter home base.