Dane County, Wisconsin Income Statistics
Dane County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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B
Dane County Around averageWealthier than 93% of counties in Wisconsin
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Dane County | Wisconsin Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $90,408 | $77,698 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $69,378 | $59,261 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.2% | 4.4% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 17.3% | 11.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 14.4% | 9.2% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Dane County is about 16% higher than in Wisconsin. Income has been growing slower in Dane County (4.2%/yr) than in Wisconsin (4.4%/yr).
About 17% of adults in Dane County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the Wisconsin average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Dane County, Wisconsin grew by 51.0% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $90,408 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.2% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Dane County
| Metric | Dane County | Wisconsin Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.502 | 0.503 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $78,151 | $67,892 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $64,729 | $54,788 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 17.2% | 19.3% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Dane County, it is 0.502, about the same as Wisconsin's 0.503, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 21% more than women's income in Dane County, Wisconsin. Over a 35-year career, a 21% wage gap accumulates to roughly $469,770 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Dane County, Wisconsin has narrowed from about 20% to 17% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 15% in 2021. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,001 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Dane County | Wisconsin Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 2.4% | 3.2% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 20.0% | 13.1% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 20 | 18 | 22 |
Approximately 7,927 people are unemployed in Dane County, Wisconsin.
The average commute time in Dane County is 20 minutes, longer than the 18 minutes in Wisconsin.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Dane County, Wisconsin has fallen from 5.4% to 2.4% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 5.7% in 2013 and fell as low as 2.3% in 2022.
Dane County, WI Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Dane County, WI is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 572,416 residents against a local median of 66,009. Where Dane County, WI breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting 33% below the local median of 3.5% at 2.4%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 1.4% on unemployment, so Dane County, WI sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Dane County, WI has the 2nd lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dane County, WI | 572,416 | $90,408 #1/6 | 4.2%/yr #6/6 | 2.4% #2/6 | 0.502 #6/6 |
| Columbia County, WI | 58,269 | $85,141 | 4.3%/yr | 3.1% | 0.489 |
| Green County, WI | 37,017 | $81,855 | 4.4%/yr | 3.6% | 0.478 |
| Rock County, WI | 164,349 | $75,645 | 5.1%/yr | 3.8% | 0.488 |
| Sauk County, WI | 66,009 | $80,789 | 5.3%/yr | 2.3% | 0.477 |
| Jefferson County, WI | 86,001 | $84,347 | 4.7%/yr | 3.5% | 0.490 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Dane County, Wisconsin has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than Wisconsin, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Dane County, Wisconsin.
How Rich Is Dane County, Wisconsin?
Dane County has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $90,408, about 16% higher than the Wisconsin average of $77,698.
Are incomes growing in Dane County, Wisconsin?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Dane County, Wisconsin rose 51%, from $59,860 to $90,408. Over the same years, income here kept pace with Wisconsin as a whole: +51% against +50%.
What was the median household income in Dane County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Dane County, Wisconsin was $89,078, up 4% from $85,376 in 2022. The Wisconsin median that year was $75,781.
What was the median household income in Dane County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Dane County, Wisconsin was $75,219. By 2024 it had risen 20% to $90,408.
Is Dane County, Wisconsin a high-income area?
Yes. 17% of adults in Dane County, Wisconsin earn $100,000 or more a year (about 1 in 6), against 11% (about 1 in 9) in Wisconsin. 14% of households have a combined income of $200,000 or more, compared with 9% in Wisconsin.
What is the Gini coefficient in Dane County, Wisconsin?
The Gini coefficient in Dane County is 0.502. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Dane County, Wisconsin?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Dane County, Wisconsin has narrowed from about 20% to 17% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 15% in 2021. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,001 since 2009.
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