Dane County, Wisconsin Housing Market Prices
Dane County Home Prices and Rent at a Glance
The median home price (often called the average home price), rent costs, affordability metrics, and housing stock characteristics for this housing market.
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Median home price 150% above the Wisconsin median Among the 5 most expensive counties in Wisconsin$426,312
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Median rent 29% above the Wisconsin median Most expensive county in Wisconsin$1,397
Median Home Price Map: Nearby Counties
Housing Market Overview
| Metric | Dane County | Wisconsin Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $426,312 | $170,479 | $248,835 |
| Price Trend (Annual %) | 11.0% | 4.2% | 7.5% |
| Median Gross Rent | $1,397 | $1,087 | $1,407 |
| Rent Trend (Annual %) | 5.1% | 4.1% | 5.1% |
| Household Income Trend (Annual %) | — | — | — |
The median home price in Dane County is about 150% higher than in Wisconsin. Rent is about 29% higher than the Wisconsin average.
Median Home and Rent Price Trends
Median Home Prices, 2015-2024
Median Rent Prices, 2015-2024
Both home prices and rent are rising in Dane County, up about 11.0% and 5.1% a year respectively. Home prices are changing faster.
Median rent in Dane County rose about 51.4% between 2015 and 2024, from $923 to $1,397. Over the same span, rent in Wisconsin rose about 40.2%.
Affordability
On average, housing unit costs 4.7 yearly household incomes in Dane County.
Buying the median-priced home in Dane County costs roughly 25.4 years of rent at the median monthly rate. That is a relatively high price-to-rent ratio, which tends to favor renting over buying in Dane County. The price-to-rent ratio in Wisconsin is about 13.1.
| Metric | Dane County | Wisconsin Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $426,312 | $170,479 | $248,835 |
| Median Household Income | $90,408 | $77,698 | $80,455 |
| Price-to-Income Ratio | 4.7 | 2.2 | 3.1 |
Home Prices vs Income Over Time
Between 2015 and 2024, the median home price in Dane County rose about 111.6%, while median household income rose about 45.1% between 2009 and 2025 — the home price grew faster than income.
Income Growth vs Housing Cost Growth (Year-over-Year %)
Compare income and housing cost trends.
Occupancy & Tenure
| Metric | Dane County | Wisconsin Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homeownership Rate | 55.0% | 60.5% | 58.5% |
| Rental Rate | 41.3% | 28.7% | 31.2% |
| Vacancy Rate | 3.7% | 10.8% | 10.2% |
| Median Tenure (years) | 14.0 | 16.0 | 15.0 |
| Median Year Moved In | 2012 | 2010 | 2011 |
Dane County has a homeownership rate of 55.0%, lower than the Wisconsin average of 60.5%. Its housing vacancy rate is 3.7%, compared with 10.8% in Wisconsin.
Housing Stock
| Metric | Dane County | Wisconsin Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Household Size | 2.21 people | 2.33 people | 2.53 people |
| Median Structure Built Year | 1983 | 1974 | 1978 |
| Median Number of Rooms | 5.4 | 5.6 | 5.5 |
The typical housing unit in Dane County was built around 1983. On average, 2.2 people live in a home with about 5.4 rooms, staying for about 14.0 years on average.
Dane County, WI Housing Compared With Nearby Counties
Dane County, WI is the largest of the 5 counties compared here, 572,416 residents against a local median of 76,005. Where Dane County, WI breaks from the counties next to it is median home price, sitting 152% above the local median of $169,459 at $426,312.
Median rent tells the same story from another angle: $1,397 against a local median of $1,027, 36% above it. The one measure here that carries a verdict is homeownership, and at 21% below the local median it puts Dane County, WI at the weaker end of the local range. The counties themselves spread $221,902 on median home price, so Dane County, WI sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Dane County, WI has the highest median home price of the 5 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median home price | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dane County, WI | 572,416 | $426,312 #1/5 | $1,397 #1/5 | 57.1% #5/5 |
| Columbia County, WI | 58,269 | $166,656 | $977 | 76.7% |
| Rock County, WI | 164,349 | $172,262 | $1,036 | 71.2% |
| Sauk County, WI | 66,009 | $332,258 | $1,018 | 72.4% |
| Jefferson County, WI | 86,001 | $110,356 | $1,035 | 73.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the housing market in Dane County, Wisconsin.
What is the median home price in Dane County, Wisconsin?
The median home price in Dane County, Wisconsin is $426,312, higher than the Wisconsin average of $170,479.
What is the average home price in Dane County, Wisconsin?
The typical home price in Dane County, Wisconsin, reported as the median sale price, is $426,312. The median is used instead of a mathematical average because it is not skewed by a small number of very expensive or very cheap homes, so it better reflects what a typical buyer pays.
What is the median rent in Dane County, Wisconsin?
The median gross rent in Dane County, Wisconsin is $1,397 per month, higher than the Wisconsin average of $1,087.
What was the median gross rent in Dane County in 2020?
In 2020, the median gross rent in Dane County, Wisconsin was $1,117 per month.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Dane County, Wisconsin?
The price-to-rent ratio in Dane County, Wisconsin is about 25.4, meaning it would take roughly 25.4 years of rent payments at the median rent to equal the median home price. That is a relatively high price-to-rent ratio, which tends to favor renting over buying in Dane County.
Are home prices or rent rising faster in Dane County, Wisconsin?
Both home prices and rent are rising in Dane County, up about 11.0% and 5.1% a year respectively. Home prices are changing faster.
What is the homeownership rate in Dane County, Wisconsin?
55.0% of households in Dane County, Wisconsin own their home, lower than the Wisconsin average of 60.5%.
What is the vacancy rate in Dane County, Wisconsin?
The housing vacancy rate in Dane County, Wisconsin is 3.7%, lower than the Wisconsin average of 10.8%.
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