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METRO AREA

Madison Metro

Madison, WI · 4 counties · 709,685 residents (2025 est.) · 3,308.838 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#28Most educatedof 92550.4%#41Lowest unemploymentof 9252.5%#41Most work-from-homeof 92518.7%
The short version

Madison has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $88,936. Population has grown 29% since 2000. 50% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $373,185. It ranks in the top 5% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 37.1
US median: 38.9
More educated
50% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 47%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
691,830
+29%since 2000
from 535,421 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
209 / sq mi
+29%since 2000
from 162 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
37.1
+9%since 2000
from 34.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:709,685 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
440K508K577K646K715K1990201020202024Madison
2024692K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$88,936
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $48,153 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$51,478
+114%since 2000
from $24,099 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
57.2%
+20.0 ptssince 2009
from 37.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
10.1%
+1.5 ptssince 2000
from 8.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.445
+3%since 2010
from 0.430 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade10.4%
US avg: 9.9%
Information9.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services6.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration5.7%
US avg: 4.8%
Wholesale trade5.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance3.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, food2.3%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$373,185
+47%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $139,112 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,319
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $611 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
60.5%
−0.6 ptssince 2000
from 61.1% in 2000
39.5% rent
Vacancy rate
4.4%
−4.0 ptssince 2009
from 8.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
19.1%
−10.7 ptssince 2009
from 29.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
43.4%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 45.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.2
+45%since 2000
from 2.9 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
62
RELATED:See current rent listings in Madison on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic89.3%(478,359)
Black3.2%(17,380)
Hispanic / Latino2.9%(15,616)
Asian2.8%(14,999)
Other0%
Diversity Score21.4%(114,627)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic78.4%(542,658)
Black4.5%(30,830)
Hispanic / Latino7.1%(49,241)
Asian5.2%(35,927)
Other4.8%(33,174)
Diversity Score46.6%(322,306)
Segregation Score33%(228,150)
Diversity Score
47
+118%since 2000
from 21 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
33
−5%since 2020
from 35 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
50.4%
+14.6 ptssince 2000
from 35.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
96.1%
+5.2 ptssince 2000
from 90.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
19.8%
+6.1 ptssince 2000
from 13.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.5 min
+63%since 2000
from 13.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
66.1%
−8.2 ptssince 2009
from 74.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
5.8%
−4.0 ptssince 2009
from 9.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
2.4%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 3.7% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
18.7%
+14.7 ptssince 2009
from 4.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
4.5%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 5.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
1.4%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
7.6%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 6.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.5%
−2.9 ptssince 2011
from 5.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
69.7%
−3.8 ptssince 2011
from 73.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
15.2%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 15.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
53.1%
−16.1 ptssince 2009
from 69.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.2%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 49.7% in 2009
Female
49.8%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 50.3% in 2009
Foreign born
7.8%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 5.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.8%
−44.6 ptssince 2009
from 49.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
9.7%
+0.6 ptssince 2012
from 9.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
3.7%
−89.2 ptssince 2013
from 93.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
92.1%
+8.3 ptssince 2017
from 83.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
89.8%
+0.3 ptssince 2016
from 89.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
4.3%
−0.1 ptssince 2016
from 4.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

MadisonCENTRAL286,233
What's inside

4 component counties

Dane CountyCENTRAL590,375Columbia County58,132Green County37,227Iowa County23,951
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Madison

Des Moines
Pop 758,539
Colorado Springs
Pop 781,796
Kiryas Joel
Pop 718,377
New Haven
Pop 578,741
Places similar to Madison
Head to head

Compare Madison side by side

MADISON VS
Des Moines
Income$86,618−3%
Home value$270,939−27%
Population758,539+7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MADISON VS
Colorado Springs
Income$90,201+1%
Home value$461,611+24%
Population781,796+10%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MADISON VS
Kiryas Joel
Income$98,151+10%
Home value$393,273+5%
Population718,377+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MADISON VS
New Haven
Income$88,197−1%
Home value$353,100−5%
Population578,741−18%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Madison, WI?

Madison, WI has about 691,830 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Madison, WI?

The typical household in Madison, WI earns about $88,936 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Madison, WI expensive?

In Madison, WI, the median home is worth about $373,185, and the typical rent is about $1,319 a month.

How educated are people in Madison, WI?

About 50.4% of adults age 25 and over in Madison, WI hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Madison, WI?

About 10.1% of people in Madison, WI live below the federal poverty line.

Has Madison, WI grown since 1990?

Yes, Madison, WI has grown since 1990. The population has added about 229,168 residents, a change of about 50 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →