Madison, Wisconsin Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Madison, Wisconsin had a total population of 278,001, the 2nd largest city in Wisconsin, with a median household income of $78,050, which is about the same as the state average. The poverty rate is 16.4%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Madison is the 2nd largest city in Wisconsin with a population of 278,001.
- 59.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — top 10% in Wisconsin.
Madison Quick Facts
How Madison Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 275,568 | 278,001 | +0.9% |
| Median household income | $76,983 | $78,050 | +1.4% |
| Median home value | $346,900 | $372,900 | +7.5% |
How Madison Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.
State average: 37 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Madison Rankings in Wisconsin
Explore Wisconsin Rankings
Other Cities in Dane County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun Prairie | 37,570 | $90,942 | 6.2% | $365,700 |
| Fitchburg | 32,619 | $86,516 | 9.3% | $417,200 |
| Middleton | 22,301 | $89,524 | 7.6% | $484,200 |
| Waunakee | 15,687 | $125,220 | 2.8% | $515,900 |
| Verona | 15,232 | $119,606 | 1.4% | $420,400 |
| Stoughton | 13,033 | $79,551 | 7.1% | $293,500 |
| Oregon | 11,547 | $102,978 | 4.7% | $417,200 |
| DeForest | 11,501 | $106,419 | 5.7% | $359,600 |
| Windsor | 9,452 | $120,048 | 4.5% | $425,600 |
| McFarland | 9,160 | $97,500 | 3.8% | $390,100 |
Cities Similar to Madison
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee | 566,973 | $54,234 | $184,000 | 27.4% | 22.8% |
| Green Bay | 106,253 | $66,206 | $207,200 | 26.7% | 14.7% |
| Kenosha | 99,372 | $71,239 | $225,200 | 29.0% | 13.7% |
| Appleton | 75,023 | $80,483 | $231,400 | 38.2% | 8.3% |
| Waukesha | 71,233 | $83,837 | $315,500 | 41.7% | 9.8% |
Population Overview
Madison is a major urban center located in Wisconsin, within Dane County. The total population is 278,001. It ranks as the 2nd most populous out of 808 Census-designated places in Wisconsin.
Age Demographics
The median age in Madison is 31.8 years. This is 21% lower than the state median of 40.2 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Madison is $78,050. This is about the same as the state median of $77,485. It is also 3% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 16.4%. This is 55% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.5%. The unemployment rate is 2.6%. This is 18% lower than the state rate of 3.3%. The median home value is $372,900. Housing costs are 40% higher than the state median of $266,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.8x. 46.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 32% lower than the state average of 67.8%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Madison is White (non-Hispanic), making up 69.6% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 9.4%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (8.0% vs 2.9%).
Education
59.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Madison in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 79% higher than the state rate of 33.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 95.9%. Notably, 25.7% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Madison, Wisconsin is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Wisconsin state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 808 Census-designated places in Wisconsin. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
Free data download: Get all Wisconsin city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Madison, Wisconsin?
Madison, Wisconsin has a population of 278,001 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Madison, WI?
The median household income in Madison is $78,050, which is 3% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Madison, WI?
The poverty rate in Madison is 16.4%. This means approximately 43,635 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Madison, Wisconsin?
Madison's population is 69.6% White, 7.2% Black, 9.4% Hispanic/Latino, and 8.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Madison, WI?
The median home value in Madison is $372,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.8x.
How educated is Madison, Wisconsin?
59.9% of adults (25+) in Madison hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 25.7% hold a graduate or professional degree.