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Dane County, Wisconsin Demographics 2026

Dane County, Wisconsin has a population of 564,777, the 2nd most populous county in Wisconsin. The median household income is $88,108 and the median home value is $366,100. The poverty rate is 10.5%.

Dane County Quick Facts

Population 564,777
Median Household Income $88,108
Median Home Value $366,100
Poverty Rate 10.5%
Unemployment Rate 2.4%
Median Age 35.6 years
Homeownership Rate 57.7%
Affordability Ratio 4.2x
Bachelor's Degree+ 54.4%
High School Graduation 96.3%
Cities/Places 24
Population 564,777 2nd of 72
Median Income $88,108 16% higher state
Poverty Rate 10.5%
Unemployment 2.4%

Economy & Housing

Employment

2.4% Unemployment Rate State: 3.3% | National: 5.2%
70.5% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 57.7%
Renter 42.3%
Affordability Index Moderate
4.2x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

40out of 100
Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 36 | National average: 60

Education

Cities & Places in Dane County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Madison city275,568$76,98316.2%$346,900
Sun Prairie city36,455$90,5216.1%$339,800
Fitchburg city31,566$85,4207.5%$389,400
Middleton city22,235$85,5267.7%$457,400
Waunakee village14,927$128,7503.7%$490,300
Verona city14,499$119,1481.9%$382,800
Stoughton city13,063$78,5176.9%$283,900
Oregon village11,384$100,6955.0%$361,200
DeForest village10,853$106,2237.0%$337,500
McFarland village9,230$93,8102.5%$363,400
Windsor village8,992$115,1116.4%$399,900
Monona city8,604$87,7847.2%$390,400
Cottage Grove village7,906$132,7173.2%$401,900
Mount Horeb village7,719$100,9562.7%$359,500
Cross Plains village4,059$103,3891.5%$347,400
Marshall village3,806$84,46215.0%$233,000
Deerfield village2,489$88,4243.2%$292,500
Shorewood Hills village2,067$129,6885.5%$913,200
Black Earth village1,724$72,6677.7%$268,500
Mazomanie village1,705$86,75010.3%$277,800
Maple Bluff village1,319$180,9722.6%$838,800
Dane village1,039$110,7695.4%$334,800
Blue Mounds village873$74,58311.8%$322,900
Rockdale village220$94,16714.5%$275,000

Explore Wisconsin Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Dane County is located in Wisconsin with a total population of 564,777. It is the 2nd most populous county out of 72 in Wisconsin. The county encompasses 24 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Dane County is 35.6 years. This is 11% lower than the state median of 40.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Dane County is $88,108. This is 16% higher than the state median of $75,670. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 12% higher. The poverty rate stands at 10.5%. This is about average than the state poverty rate of 10.6%. The unemployment rate is 2.4%. This is 26% lower than the state rate of 3.3%. The median home value is $366,100. Housing costs are 48% higher than the state median of $247,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.2x. 57.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 15% lower than the state average of 67.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Dane County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 76.7% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 7.6%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (5.9% vs 2.9%).

Education

54.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Dane County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 66% higher than the state rate of 32.8%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 96.3%. Notably, 21.9% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Dane County, Wisconsin?

Dane County has a population of 564,777, making it the 2nd most populous county in Wisconsin.

What is the median income in Dane County?

The median household income in Dane County is $88,108 with a poverty rate of 10.5%.

How many cities are in Dane County, Wisconsin?

Dane County contains 24 Census-designated places.