Population 572,674 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Dane County
Household size in Dane County
| Period | Dane County | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.43 | 2.43 | 2.45 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.40 | 2.41 | 2.47 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.40 | 2.39 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.29 | 2.30 | 2.40 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.14 | −0.13 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Households in Dane County are small: just 2.29 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.43, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Dane County
| Period | Dane County | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.2 | 37.0 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 37.0 | 37.9 | 39.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 37.4 | 38.3 | 40.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 37.9 | 38.9 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.7 | +1.9 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Dane County is 37.9 years old, a few years younger than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 36.2, mirroring the country. Few Wisconsin counties are younger: only four of 72.
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 Dane County
| Period | Dane County | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.7% | 8.7% | 10.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.7% | 8.8% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.8% | 8.0% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.0% | 8.2% | 9.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | −0.5 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Dane County: 8.0% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The picture is much the same across the Madison area. The single-parent share is down 0.6 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Dane County
Renters in Dane County
| Period | Dane County | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.9% | 35.1% | 30.5% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 41.2% | 38.3% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 41.8% | 38.9% | 33.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 42.9% | 39.7% | 32.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | +5.0 pts | +4.5 pts | +1.6 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is more common in Dane County than nationally: 42.9% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% for the U.S. About a third of owners (33.6%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 5.0 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only one other Wisconsin county 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 Dane County
| Period | Dane County | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.7% | 8.9% | 10.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 5.4% | 6.3% | 10.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.1% | 5.7% | 10.1% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.0% | 5.5% | 9.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.7 pts | −3.4 pts | −1.3 pts | −1.8 pts |
Only 5.0% of homes in Dane County are vacant, far below the national rate of 9.6%, which usually means strong demand for housing. Vacancy is down 3.7 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Of Wisconsin's 72 counties, only three have a lower vacancy rate.
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 Dane County
| Period | Dane County | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1978 | 1976 | 1970 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1979 | 1978 | 1971 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1981 | 1979 | 1972 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1985 | 1983 | 1974 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +7 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in Dane County are a bit newer than the national norm: the median home was built in 1985, versus 1980 across the U.S. The median year built has moved up from 1978 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northeast, the oldest in the center. Of Wisconsin's 72 counties, only three have newer homes.
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 Dane County
| Period | Dane County | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $898 | $868 | $758 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $986 | $950 | $821 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,123 | $1,072 | $904 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,441 | $1,366 | $1,139 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$543 | +$498 | +$380 | +$606 |
The median renter in Dane County pays $1,441 a month for rent and utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Locally, though, rents here are higher than in the wider Madison area ($1,366). Rent has climbed $543 a month since 2006–10, up 61%, roughly in step with the nation. Rent takes 29.9% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
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 Dane County
Bachelor's degrees in Dane County
| Period | Dane County | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 45.8% | 41.3% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 48.2% | 43.6% | 28.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 51.9% | 46.9% | 30.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 55.4% | 50.6% | 33.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.5 pts | +9.3 pts | +7.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
Dane County is highly educated: more than half of adults 25 and older (55.4%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 9.5 points, as it has nationally. Dane County has the highest share of college graduates of any Wisconsin county.
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 Dane County
| Period | Dane County | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 94.4% | 93.8% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.8% | 94.4% | 90.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.7% | 95.2% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.3% | 95.1% | 93.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.9 pts | +1.3 pts | +3.8 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Dane County: 95.3% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has edged up 0.9 points, a smaller shift than nationally. Dane County has a higher share of high school graduates than at least four in five Wisconsin counties.
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 Dane County
| Period | Dane County | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.0% | 5.0% | 6.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.5% | 5.5% | 7.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.6% | 2.6% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.5% | 2.6% | 3.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.5 pts | −2.4 pts | −3.4 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Dane County has been strong: just 2.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment is down 2.5 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
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).
Dane County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dane County | 2.29 | 37.9 | 8.0% | 42.9% | 5.0% | 1985 | $1,441 | 55.4% | 95.3% | 2.5% |
| Jefferson County | 2.41 | 42.1 | 8.8% | 26.9% | 6.3% | 1974 | $1,074 | 28.9% | 92.3% | 3.6% |
| Iowa County | 2.35 | 44.2 | 7.5% | 22.6% | 8.7% | 1972 | $1,006 | 28.5% | 94.9% | 3.0% |
| Waukesha County | 2.49 | 44.2 | 6.5% | 24.0% | 5.2% | 1981 | $1,484 | 49.2% | 97.2% | 2.3% |
| Milwaukee County | 2.43 | 36.6 | 15.9% | 50.1% | 8.7% | 1958 | $1,176 | 34.0% | 88.9% | 5.1% |
| Crawford County | 2.29 | 47.5 | 8.3% | 22.8% | 19.4% | 1977 | $809 | 18.7% | 92.7% | 3.0% |
| Chickasaw County | 2.36 | 43.1 | 7.5% | 19.1% | 9.6% | 1966 | $717 | 21.3% | 93.7% | 1.7% |
| Floyd County | 2.37 | 43.6 | 9.5% | 23.4% | 11.9% | 1953 | $738 | 18.1% | 95.4% | 3.0% |
| Ottawa County | 2.68 | 38.3 | 8.0% | 20.7% | 6.2% | 1987 | $1,285 | 40.0% | 93.8% | 3.4% |
| Kent County | 2.63 | 37.4 | 10.6% | 29.7% | 5.8% | 1976 | $1,388 | 40.7% | 92.0% | 4.1% |
| Cerro Gordo County | 2.15 | 45.9 | 9.4% | 29.6% | 14.9% | 1962 | $894 | 25.2% | 94.9% | 2.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Williamson County, TX · Providence County, RI · Stanislaus County, CA · Delaware County, PA · Volusia County, FL · Washington County, OR · Bucks County, PA · Brevard County, FL · Baltimore City, MD · Arapahoe County, CO
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 Dane County. 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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