1st Advantage MortgageThe median Dane County household earns $89,975, and 11% of residents live below the poverty line. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Wisconsin license first.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Dane County
- How much Dane County households make
- Housing costs in Dane County
- Employment and commuting in Dane County
- How Dane County compares with nearby counties
- Places inside Dane County
- Budget math at the Dane County median
- Reading the Dane County data as a borrower
- Dane County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Steps before you apply in Dane County
- Lender oversight for Dane County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Dane County
With an estimated 572,674 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Dane County ranks 2nd of 72 in Wisconsin for population. It covers 1,196 square miles of land, or about 479 people per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Madison, WI metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. The Census Bureau counts 25 places in the county (25 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Madison, with about 278,001 residents, or 49% of the county.
How much Dane County households make
The median household income in Dane County is $89,975; statewide it is $77,485, so Dane County runs 16% above Wisconsin as a whole. In the state ranking that is 6th of 72.
| Households earning | Dane County | +/- vs Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 17.2% | -3.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 37.6% | -4.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 30.9% | +2.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 14.4% | +5.2 pts |
The spread is wide: 45% of Dane County households make $100,000 or more, and 17% make less than $35,000. 10.6% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.6%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.453 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Housing costs in Dane County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,398 in Dane County versus $1,087 statewide. By the Census definition, 48% of Dane County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $394,800, a typical Dane County house costs 4.4 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 57%.
| Cost | Dane County | Wisconsin figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,398/mo | $1,087/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $394,800 | $266,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 57% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 22% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 4% | 11% | n/a |
Employment and commuting in Dane County
The biggest employer of Dane County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 29% of workers, followed by professional and administrative services (17%). The sharpest difference from the state is in professional and administrative services, at 17% locally and 9% for Wisconsin. Averaged over the five survey years, 2.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 64% drive to work alone and 6% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 8.2% of households have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Dane County | Difference from Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 28.9% | +5.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 16.8% | +7.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.2% | -1.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.0% | -8.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.3% | -0.1 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.3% | +1.2 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
How Dane County compares with nearby counties
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (28 to 36 miles). Income ranges from $75,673 in Rock County to $85,351 in Columbia County; none of these neighbors top Dane County's median.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dane County | - | $89,975 | $1,398/mo | 57% |
| Columbia County, WI | 28 mi | $85,351 | $978/mo | 77% |
| Green County, WI | 29 mi | $82,852 | $867/mo | 76% |
| Rock County, WI | 32 mi | $75,673 | $1,037/mo | 71% |
| Jefferson County, WI | 33 mi | $83,750 | $1,035/mo | 73% |
| Sauk County, WI | 36 mi | $79,541 | $1,018/mo | 72% |
| Iowa County, WI | 36 mi | $82,182 | $954/mo | 77% |
Places inside Dane County
25 Census places fall mainly inside Dane County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 501,684 residents, leaving about 12% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $198,750 at the median in Maple Bluff, $75,625 in Black Earth. Rent is cheapest in Marshall ($874) and steepest in Shorewood Hills ($1,919). City guides exist for the linked Dane County places; everyone else in the county can use this page.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | city | 278,001 | $78,050 | $1,413 | 2 mi |
| Sun Prairie | city | 37,570 | $90,942 | $1,419 | 12 mi |
| Fitchburg | city | 32,619 | $86,516 | $1,373 | 6 mi |
| Middleton | city | 22,301 | $89,524 | $1,437 | 5 mi |
| Waunakee | village | 15,687 | $125,220 | $1,324 | 8 mi |
| Verona | city | 15,232 | $119,606 | $1,605 | 8 mi |
| Stoughton | city | 13,033 | $79,551 | $1,157 | 14 mi |
| Oregon | village | 11,547 | $102,978 | $1,221 | 10 mi |
| DeForest | village | 11,501 | $106,419 | $1,442 | 12 mi |
| Windsor | village | 9,452 | $120,048 | $1,375 | 14 mi |
| McFarland | village | 9,160 | $97,500 | $1,458 | 8 mi |
| Monona | city | 8,527 | $87,773 | $1,275 | 4 mi |
| Cottage Grove | village | 8,513 | $139,313 | $1,531 | 11 mi |
| Mount Horeb | village | 7,736 | $107,856 | $1,240 | 16 mi |
Budget math at the Dane County median
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Dane County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Monthly gross at the median, Dane County: $7,498
- Housing at the median rent of $1,398 uses 19%
- Under a 40% cap, $2,999 total minus rent leaves $1,601
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Reading the Dane County data as a borrower
A few patterns in the Dane County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Consolidation math. With 45% at six figures, card consolidation is common; it pays only if total cost falls (guide).
- Renters under pressure. When 48% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
Dane County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 55% of adults over 25. 3.6% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Dane County | Wisconsin | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.7 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 55.3% | 33.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 3.6% | 6.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.6% | 5.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 8.2% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 20.0% | 13.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.6% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.4% | 3.2% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Dane County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 30.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 46.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.3% |
| 60+ min | 2.6% |
Steps before you apply in Dane County
Before you apply, wherever you live in Dane County:
- Price the Dane County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Lender oversight for Dane County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Dane County borrowers answers to the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. More on Wisconsin: Wisconsin personal loans.
Related local guides
More local guides:
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Dane County household make?
About $89,975 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 16% above the Wisconsin median.
What do renters pay in Dane County?
$1,398 a month at the median, about 19% of median household income.
Does this page cover Madison?
Yes, along with the other 24 Census places in Dane County, such as Sun Prairie, Fitchburg, Middleton.
Will a Dane County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Wisconsin as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Where can someone in Dane County check a lender's license?
With the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.