Wisconsin · GEOID 55025

Dane County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 572,674 · 261,061 housing units

Median household income

$89,975

State $78,421

Median home value

$394,800

State $270,495

Median gross rent

$1,398

State $1,096

Homeownership rate

57.1%

State 67.8%

Renter cost-burden rate

47.8%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

19.2%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

0.4%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

2.9%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

3.7%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

4.39

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Dane County	Wisconsin
Population	572,674	5,914,872
Population density (per sq. mi.)	478.63	—
Median household income	$89,975	$78,421
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$135,300	—
Households	251,529	—
Average household size	2.21 people	—
Owner-occupied	57.1%	67.8%
Renter-occupied	42.9%	32.2%
Race	77.3% White · 5.2% Black	0.0% White · 0.0% Black

Source: ACS 5-year 2024 (Tables DP05, S1101, DP04, S1901) and Census Gazetteer (land area); HUD FY2026 Income Limits.

Racial composition

Dane County compared with Wisconsin.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

55.3% hold a bachelor's degree or higher (state: 33.4%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1501.

Median Household Income by Tenure

Owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied household income, county and state.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25119.

Median Household Income by Age of Householder

Median household income by age group of householder.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B19049.

Median Household Income by Number of Earners

Median household income for families with each earner count.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903.

Household Size

Distribution of households by number of people.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2501.

Income by Number of Earners

Earners	Share	Median income	Attainable monthly housing cost	Attainable home
0 earners	13.6%	$82,384	$2,060	$275,642
1 earner	26.8%	$81,129	$2,028	$270,970
2 earners	48.8%	$149,142	$3,729	$524,138
3+ earners	10.8%	$172,685	$4,317	$611,773

Attainable monthly housing cost = 30% of gross income ÷ 12. Attainable home price assumes 30% housing budget, 30-yr mortgage at 7%, 5% down.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903; affordability formula derived.

Households

251,529

Average size: 2.21 people

Households with children

58,932

23.4% of households

Per-capita income

$53,181

Poverty rate: 12.3%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

Housing stock characteristics — tenure, type, age, size, vacancy, rents.

Tenure

57.1% owner-occupied vs. state average 67.8%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 57.0% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 20.2%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

43.2% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,986.00 yrs.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2504.

Housing size mismatch

Compares the share of housing units by bedroom count against the share of households by size — a common diagnostic of housing supply/demand alignment.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Tables B25041 (bedrooms) and S2501 (household size).

Home value distribution

Owner-occupied homes by value bracket. Median: $394,800.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Monthly Housing Costs

Distribution of monthly housing costs across all occupied units.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25104.

Number of Bedrooms

Housing units by number of bedrooms.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25041.

Median rent by bedroom

Overall median gross rent: $1,398.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25031.

Renters by age

Number of renter householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Owners by age

Number of owner householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Vacancy composition

All 9,532 vacant units split into Census's seven categories. Frictional vacancy (units actively on the market) reflects healthy churn. Structural vacancy (seasonal, migrant, other) sits outside the market for year-round residents — high values change how the headline vacancy rate should be read.

Vacant units by type

For sale 5.5% · For rent 34.2% · Seasonal 19.1% · Other 23.4%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

57.4% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 42.6% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

0.7%

1,821 units of 261,061 total

Housing units held for seasonal or recreational use.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

0.9%

2,235 units of 261,061 total

Census "Other vacant" — units off the market for reasons other than seasonal, migrant, sale, or rental.

Section 3

Workforce Housing Needs Assessment

Affordability, cost burden, and the housing options for households in the workforce income range.

Workforce range — ACS median household income

80% MHI$71,980

100% MHI$89,975

120% MHI$107,970

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Dane County should be able to afford a home up to roughly — (30% housing budget, default mortgage terms).

Workforce range — HUD Area Median Income

	1-person	2-person	4-person
80% AMI	$74,800	$85,450	$106,800
100% AMI	$94,710	$108,240	$135,300
120% AMI	$113,650	$129,900	$162,350

HUD FMR Area: Madison, WI HUD Metro FMR Area. 80% AMI uses HUD's published Section 8 Low Income Limits; 100% is HUD MFI; 120% is the standard workforce convention.

Affordability calculator

Follows the standard 30%-of-gross-income affordability rule.

Income basis Household income Interest rate % Down payment % Taxes & insurance / yr

Affordable monthly—

Affordable home price—

Renter cost burden

47.8% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (23.1% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

19.2% of homeowners spend ≥30% of income on housing. Bars show counts of cost-burdened owners by income bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25106.

Household income — owners vs renters

Distribution of household income for owner-occupied (navy) and renter-occupied (gold) households.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25118.

Section 4

Industry & Workforce Wages

Employment, average wages, and the housing each industry's typical earner can afford in Dane County.

Covered employment

310,159

Across 20 sectors

Establishments

18,085

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$73,020

Employment-weighted across sectors

Top 10 sectors by employment

Annual average employment by NAICS 2-digit sector. Counties with fewer than five covered establishments in a sector may show suppressed totals.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024.

Attainable housing by industry

Industry	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 62 Health care and social assistance NAICS 62	45,480	$75,362	$249,503	−$145,297	$1,884
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	29,993	$38,610	$112,700	−$282,100	$965
NAICS 72 Accommodation and food services NAICS 72	28,299	$24,526	$60,275	−$334,525	$613
NAICS 54 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 54	26,523	$104,002	$356,111	−$38,689	$2,600
NAICS 31-33 Manufacturing NAICS 31-33	26,318	$77,671	$258,098	−$136,702	$1,942
NAICS 51 Information NAICS 51	19,711	$139,739	$489,136	+$94,336	$3,493
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	19,341	$53,253	$167,206	−$227,594	$1,331
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	18,172	$83,144	$278,471	−$116,329	$2,079
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	17,703	$116,289	$401,848	+$7,048	$2,907
NAICS 56 Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services NAICS 56	14,632	$49,179	$152,041	−$242,759	$1,229
NAICS 42 Wholesale trade NAICS 42	12,527	$88,396	$298,020	−$96,780	$2,210
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	11,370	$55,188	$174,409	−$220,391	$1,380
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	10,001	$73,400	$242,200	−$152,600	$1,835
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	9,311	$54,585	$172,164	−$222,636	$1,365
NAICS 71 Arts, entertainment, and recreation NAICS 71	6,795	$25,784	$64,957	−$329,843	$645
NAICS 55 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 55	5,354	$134,103	$468,157	+$73,357	$3,353
NAICS 53 Real estate and rental and leasing NAICS 53	4,508	$61,952	$199,587	−$195,213	$1,549
NAICS 11 Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting NAICS 11	2,445	$59,426	$190,184	−$204,616	$1,486
NAICS 22 Utilities NAICS 22	1,496	$120,565	$417,764	+$22,964	$3,014
NAICS 21 Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction NAICS 21	180	$94,159	$319,472	−$75,328	$2,354

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 541 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 541	26,523	$104,002	$356,111	−$38,689	$2,600
NAICS 722 Food services and drinking places NAICS 722	25,095	$23,690	$57,163	−$337,637	$592
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	20,135	$105,763	$362,666	−$32,134	$2,644
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	19,341	$53,253	$167,206	−$227,594	$1,331
NAICS 513 Publishing industries NAICS 513	14,364	$150,843	$530,469	+$135,669	$3,771
NAICS 561 Administrative and support services NAICS 561	14,079	$48,162	$148,256	−$246,544	$1,204
NAICS 524 Insurance carriers and related activities NAICS 524	11,165	$116,975	$404,401	+$9,601	$2,924
NAICS 624 Social assistance NAICS 624	10,355	$35,705	$101,887	−$292,913	$893
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	10,100	$78,587	$261,508	−$133,292	$1,965
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	9,359	$75,492	$249,987	−$144,813	$1,887
NAICS 622 Hospitals NAICS 622	8,936	$76,081	$252,180	−$142,620	$1,902
NAICS 423 Merchant wholesalers, durable goods NAICS 423	7,839	$95,300	$323,719	−$71,081	$2,383
NAICS 445 Food and beverage retailers NAICS 445	6,603	$29,659	$79,381	−$315,419	$741
NAICS 623 Nursing and residential care facilities NAICS 623	6,055	$41,012	$121,641	−$273,159	$1,025
NAICS 551 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 551	5,354	$134,103	$468,157	+$73,357	$3,353
NAICS 236 Construction of buildings NAICS 236	5,303	$87,463	$294,547	−$100,253	$2,187
NAICS 455 General merchandise retailers NAICS 455	5,091	$29,723	$79,620	−$315,180	$743
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	5,043	$91,702	$310,326	−$84,474	$2,293
NAICS 813 Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations NAICS 813	4,907	$65,880	$214,208	−$180,592	$1,647
NAICS 713 Amusement, gambling, and recreation industries NAICS 713	4,464	$19,708	$42,340	−$352,460	$493
NAICS 325 Chemical manufacturing NAICS 325	4,378	$104,931	$359,569	−$35,231	$2,623
NAICS 424 Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods NAICS 424	4,368	$75,382	$249,578	−$145,222	$1,885
NAICS 922 Justice, public order, and safety activities NAICS 922	3,972	$79,178	$263,708	−$131,092	$1,979
NAICS 459 Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers NAICS 459	3,872	$32,490	$89,919	−$304,881	$812
NAICS 531 Real estate NAICS 531	3,687	$61,675	$198,556	−$196,244	$1,542
NAICS 812 Personal and laundry services NAICS 812	3,650	$36,283	$104,038	−$290,762	$907
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	3,641	$67,340	$219,643	−$175,157	$1,684
NAICS 923 Administration of human resource programs NAICS 923	3,405	$76,666	$254,357	−$140,443	$1,917
NAICS 335 Electrical equipment, appliance, and component manufacturing NAICS 335	3,289	$69,989	$229,503	−$165,297	$1,750
NAICS 333 Machinery manufacturing NAICS 333	3,250	$85,808	$288,387	−$106,413	$2,145
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	3,246	$76,874	$255,132	−$139,668	$1,922
NAICS 721 Accommodation NAICS 721	3,204	$31,073	$84,645	−$310,155	$777
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	2,508	$30,152	$81,216	−$313,584	$754
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	2,426	$66,656	$217,097	−$177,703	$1,666
NAICS 332 Fabricated metal product manufacturing NAICS 332	2,394	$81,265	$271,476	−$123,324	$2,032
NAICS 237 Heavy and civil engineering construction NAICS 237	2,348	$94,552	$320,935	−$73,865	$2,364
NAICS 458 Clothing, clothing accessories, shoe, and jewelry retailers NAICS 458	2,312	$41,556	$123,666	−$271,134	$1,039
NAICS 326 Plastics and rubber products manufacturing NAICS 326	2,231	$75,830	$251,245	−$143,555	$1,896
NAICS 444 Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers NAICS 444	2,141	$41,943	$125,107	−$269,693	$1,049
NAICS 484 Truck transportation NAICS 484	2,115	$67,913	$221,776	−$173,024	$1,698
NAICS 492 Couriers and messengers NAICS 492	2,112	$44,523	$134,710	−$260,090	$1,113
NAICS 311 Food manufacturing NAICS 311	2,074	$55,574	$175,846	−$218,954	$1,389
NAICS 456 Health and personal care retailers NAICS 456	2,071	$42,699	$127,921	−$266,879	$1,067
NAICS 334 Computer and electronic product manufacturing NAICS 334	2,052	$88,357	$297,875	−$96,925	$2,209
NAICS 517 Telecommunications NAICS 517	1,905	$107,685	$369,821	−$24,979	$2,692
NAICS 493 Warehousing and storage NAICS 493	1,758	$46,384	$141,637	−$253,163	$1,160
NAICS 449 Furniture, home furnishings, electronics, and appliance retailers NAICS 449	1,753	$51,323	$160,022	−$234,778	$1,283
NAICS 323 Printing and related support activities NAICS 323	1,607	$58,944	$188,390	−$206,410	$1,474
NAICS 518 Computing infrastructure providers, data processing, web hosting, and related services NAICS 518	1,498	$119,339	$413,201	+$18,401	$2,983
NAICS 221 Utilities NAICS 221	1,496	$120,565	$417,764	+$22,964	$3,014
NAICS 523 Securities, commodity contracts, and other financial investments and related activities NAICS 523	1,486	$194,748	$693,899	+$299,099	$4,869
NAICS 485 Transit and ground passenger transportation NAICS 485	1,476	$49,765	$154,223	−$240,577	$1,244
NAICS 711 Performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries NAICS 711	1,264	$34,285	$96,601	−$298,199	$857
NAICS 339 Miscellaneous manufacturing NAICS 339	1,235	$70,885	$232,839	−$161,961	$1,772
NAICS 115 Support activities for agriculture and forestry NAICS 115	1,136	$75,301	$249,276	−$145,524	$1,883
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	1,025	$74,639	$246,812	−$147,988	$1,866
NAICS 336 Transportation equipment manufacturing NAICS 336	934	$53,795	$169,224	−$225,576	$1,345
NAICS 519 Web search portals, libraries, archives, and other information services NAICS 519	854	$164,098	$579,809	+$185,009	$4,102
NAICS 112 Animal production and aquaculture NAICS 112	807	$50,272	$156,110	−$238,690	$1,257
NAICS 532 Rental and leasing services NAICS 532	707	$54,880	$173,262	−$221,538	$1,372
NAICS 488 Support activities for transportation NAICS 488	664	$43,601	$131,278	−$263,522	$1,090
NAICS 312 Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing NAICS 312	646	$51,504	$160,696	−$234,104	$1,288
NAICS 516 Broadcasting and content providers NAICS 516	594	$79,455	$264,739	−$130,061	$1,986
NAICS 562 Waste management and remediation services NAICS 562	553	$75,081	$248,457	−$146,343	$1,877
NAICS 327 Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing NAICS 327	514	$70,531	$231,521	−$163,279	$1,763
NAICS 337 Furniture and related product manufacturing NAICS 337	506	$59,838	$191,718	−$203,082	$1,496
NAICS 111 Crop production NAICS 111	502	$38,218	$111,241	−$283,559	$955
NAICS 928 National security and international affairs NAICS 928	496	$81,030	$270,602	−$124,198	$2,026
NAICS 512 Motion picture and sound recording industries NAICS 512	464	$33,186	$92,510	−$302,290	$830
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	428	$99,855	$340,675	−$54,125	$2,496
NAICS 331 Primary metal manufacturing NAICS 331	402	$70,232	$230,408	−$164,392	$1,756
NAICS 814 Private households NAICS 814	387	$26,026	$65,858	−$328,942	$651
NAICS 321 Wood product manufacturing NAICS 321	352	$66,384	$216,084	−$178,716	$1,660
NAICS 425 Wholesale trade agents and brokers NAICS 425	320	$96,928	$329,779	−$65,021	$2,423
NAICS 712 Museums, historical sites, and similar institutions NAICS 712	301	$34,270	$96,545	−$298,255	$857
NAICS 322 Paper manufacturing NAICS 322	220	$76,611	$254,153	−$140,647	$1,915
NAICS 925 Administration of housing programs, urban planning, and community development NAICS 925	178	$89,349	$301,568	−$93,232	$2,234
NAICS 533 Lessors of nonfinancial intangible assets (except copyrighted works) NAICS 533	114	$114,766	$396,178	+$1,378	$2,869
NAICS 314 Textile product mills NAICS 314	55	$57,932	$184,623	−$210,177	$1,448

Affordable home price assumes the industry's average earner uses 30% of gross income for housing, with a 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr taxes & insurance, and 0.5% PMI. Adjust the Section 3 calculator for other terms. Affordable rent is 30% of monthly gross pay.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024; ACS 5-year 2024 (median home value).

Section 5

Wages by Occupation

Selected essential-worker occupations for the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county — jobs, the 10-year change, wages, and the housing each typical earner can afford. Both jobs counts and wages are reported at the MSA / nonmetropolitan-area level (BLS does not publish OEWS at the county level), so every county inside the same area shows the same numbers. For county-accurate employment totals, see Section 4 above.

Occupational wages and affordable housing

Occupation	2025 jobs	2015–2025 change	% change	Hourly wage	Annual wage	Affordable home price	Affordable monthly rent
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023 · prior-year code differs	9,180	(250)	(3%)	$14.89	$30,970	$84,261	$774
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	7,960	1,080	16%	$16.32	$33,940	$95,317	$849
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	680	(160)	(19%)	$16.92	$35,190	$99,970	$880
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	8,330	(2,460)	(23%)	$18.25	$37,950	$110,243	$949
Waiters and Waitresses SOC 35-3031	5,130	(120)	(2%)	$18.49	$38,450	$112,104	$961
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	6,780	550	9%	$19.58	$40,720	$120,554	$1,018
Tellers SOC 43-3071	1,070	(140)	(12%)	$20.42	$42,470	$127,068	$1,062
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131 · prior-year code differs	3,420	(1,200)	(26%)	$22.23	$46,240	$141,101	$1,156
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	5,970	(6,630)	(53%)	$23.08	$48,000	$147,653	$1,200
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	1,230	80	7%	$26.13	$54,360	$171,327	$1,359
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	3,790	130	4%	$27.19	$56,560	$179,516	$1,414
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	2,370	750	46%	$28.10	$58,440	$186,514	$1,461
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	4,160	660	19%	$28.67	$59,620	$190,906	$1,491
Paramedics SOC 29-2043 · prior-year code differs	220	(440)	(67%)	$29.78	$61,940	$199,542	$1,549
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	2,320	(50)	(2%)	$32.75	$68,120	$222,546	$1,703
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	3,530	(110)	(3%)	—	$70,940	$233,043	$1,774
Electricians SOC 47-2111	1,760	420	31%	$36.50	$75,920	$251,580	$1,898
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	1,600	(30)	(2%)	$38.89	$80,890	$270,081	$2,022
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	1,590	470	42%	$41.63	$86,590	$291,298	$2,165
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	10,650	3,070	41%	$48.29	$100,430	$342,815	$2,511

Affordable home price uses the same Section 3 formula (30% housing budget, 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr T&I, 0.5% PMI). Affordable rent is 30% of monthly wages. Negative job-change values are shown in red parentheses. A "prior-year code differs" note flags occupations whose SOC code changed between the two vintages (2010 SOC → 2018 SOC) — the change estimate is best-effort.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (10-year change vs. May 2015). Jobs counts and wages reflect the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county, not the county alone — OEWS is not published at the county level.

Methodology & sources

All figures derive from the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. State and national comparisons are population-weighted aggregates of county-level estimates (an approximation; ACS publishes its own state and national medians which can differ slightly).

The affordability calculator uses a 30% housing-budget rule with a 30-year mortgage. Defaults are 7% interest, 5% down, $2,500/year taxes and insurance, and 0.5% PMI — adjustable above.

Variables: 55025 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.