Dude, you are SO going to love Madison. It's my second favorite city, after NYC.
I can relate to everything you've written about needing to get out of the town you're in, the apartment---all of it. And as far as the coworkers that will be offended, well, I went through that when I left Wausau for Madison for college.
Nasty they were. They weren't good enough, I thought I was better than everyone bla bla bla.
If they're going to react like that, then they're not friends looking out for your happiness.
Oh yeah, congrats on the condo!