Population 31,466 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Capitol
Household size in Capitol
| Period | Capitol | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.08 | 2.43 | 2.45 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 1.94 | 2.41 | 2.47 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.18 | 2.39 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.88 | 2.30 | 2.40 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.20 | −0.13 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Capitol is a place of small households, averaging 1.88 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has dropped from 2.08 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Households are largest in the southwest and smallest in the north.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Capitol
| Period | Capitol | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.3 | 37.0 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 23.9 | 37.9 | 39.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 24.0 | 38.3 | 40.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 24.4 | 38.9 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.1 | +1.9 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
Capitol is young: half of its residents are under 24.4, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young adults in their twenties. Only one other Madison neighborhood is younger.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Capitol
| Period | Capitol | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.4% | 8.7% | 10.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 1.6% | 8.8% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 2.2% | 8.0% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.6% | 8.2% | 9.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.8 pts | −0.5 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Capitol: 1.6% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share is down 2.8 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only one other Madison neighborhood has a lower share of single-parent households.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Capitol
Renters in Capitol
| Period | Capitol | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 92.3% | 35.1% | 30.5% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 92.9% | 38.3% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 91.9% | 38.9% | 33.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 90.3% | 39.7% | 32.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.9 pts | +4.5 pts | +1.6 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Capitol rent: 90.3% of occupied homes are rented, far above the national share of 34.8%. Expect more apartments, and more turnover, than in owner-heavy areas. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 1.9 points, even as the national share rose. Only one other Madison neighborhood has a higher share of renters.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Capitol
| Period | Capitol | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.7% | 8.9% | 10.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.5% | 6.3% | 10.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.8% | 5.7% | 10.1% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.6% | 5.5% | 9.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −13.1 pts | −3.4 pts | −1.3 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Capitol than nationally: 6.6%, against 9.6% for the U.S. The picture is much the same across the Madison area. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 13.1 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Capitol
| Period | Capitol | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1969 | 1976 | 1970 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1976 | 1978 | 1971 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1978 | 1979 | 1972 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1989 | 1983 | 1974 | 1980 |
| Change | +20 | +7 | +5 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Capitol is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1989, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1969 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the center, while the north has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Capitol
| Period | Capitol | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $775 | $868 | $758 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $891 | $950 | $821 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,190 | $1,072 | $904 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,510 | $1,366 | $1,139 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$734 | +$498 | +$380 | +$606 |
Rent in Capitol runs $1,510 a month at the median, utilities included, close to the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents here are higher than in the wider Madison area ($1,366). Rents are up $734 a month from 2006–10, a 95% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 45.3% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Capitol
Bachelor's degrees in Capitol
| Period | Capitol | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 48.0% | 41.3% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 53.5% | 43.6% | 28.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 61.3% | 46.9% | 30.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 61.0% | 50.6% | 33.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +12.9 pts | +9.3 pts | +7.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Capitol: 61.0% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 12.9 points, mirroring the country.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Capitol
| Period | Capitol | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 91.0% | 93.8% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.5% | 94.4% | 90.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.4% | 95.2% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 84.6% | 95.1% | 93.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | −6.4 pts | +1.3 pts | +3.8 pts | +4.3 pts |
Just over one in seven adults in Capitol never finished high school, more than nationally: 84.6% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has fallen 6.4 points, even as the national rate rose. Capitol has a lower share of high school graduates than at least four in five Madison neighborhoods.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Capitol
| Period | Capitol | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.1% | 5.0% | 6.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.5% | 5.5% | 7.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.8% | 2.6% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.9% | 2.6% | 3.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.3 pts | −2.4 pts | −3.4 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Capitol is close to the national rate: 4.9% of the labor force, against 5.4%. The rate is higher than in the Madison area overall (2.6%). Unemployment is down 3.3 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Capitol compared with nearby neighborhoods
| Neighborhood | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capitol | 1.88 | 24.4 | 1.6% | 90.3% | 6.6% | 1989 | $1,510 | 61.0% | 84.6% | 4.9% |
| South Campus | 2.89 | 20.8 | 1.4% | 100.0% | 8.9% | 1997 | $1,624 | 30.7% | 83.6% | 4.5% |
| Greenbush | 2.40 | 24.6 | 4.2% | 79.6% | 8.8% | 1944 | $1,661 | 78.9% | 95.4% | 3.3% |
| Tenney-Lapham | 1.66 | 32.6 | 2.7% | 76.1% | 6.2% | 1983 | $1,533 | 72.5% | 99.9% | 3.3% |
| Regent | 2.24 | 26.1 | 5.0% | 64.7% | 8.7% | 1955 | $1,419 | 78.7% | 78.8% | 3.4% |
| Marquette | 1.88 | 32.7 | 2.1% | 68.0% | 3.6% | 1953 | $1,627 | 71.5% | 97.7% | 5.7% |
| Dudgeon-Monroe | 2.16 | 34.7 | 4.5% | 33.3% | 3.5% | 1939 | $1,615 | 85.3% | 99.9% | 3.1% |
| Sunset Village | 2.14 | 35.2 | 8.4% | 38.8% | 6.9% | 1954 | $1,759 | 73.5% | 98.7% | 3.2% |
| Moorland-Rimrock | 2.32 | 35.8 | 8.7% | 47.2% | 1.6% | 1987 | $1,264 | 24.2% | 84.8% | 1.4% |
| Schenk-Atwood-Starkweather-Yahar | 1.82 | 39.0 | 3.4% | 47.1% | 6.4% | 1939 | $1,556 | 73.3% | 99.1% | 3.7% |
| Sherman | 2.07 | 31.7 | 18.3% | 53.0% | 7.4% | 1963 | $1,151 | 47.6% | 94.7% | 4.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Southeast Boise, Boise, ID · West Side, Newark, NJ · Roseland, Chicago, IL · Far West, Fort Worth, TX · Morningside Heights, Manhattan, NY · Far North, Columbus, OH · Seaport, Stockton, CA · Silver Lake, Los Angeles, CA · Little Woods, New Orleans, LA · South Lawndale, Chicago, IL
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Capitol. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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