Median Age
34 Years
Largest Age Group
20-29 Years
Approximately 21% of Residents
Under 20
21%
Over 65
15%
Madison
Madison, WI Area Guide
Avg Rent
$1,514
Population
279,528
Renter Mix
55% Rent
Wisconsin’s capital city is a thriving lakefront college town
Lakefront
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Scenic
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College Town
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Lively
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Family-Friendly
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As Wisconsin’s capital and second largest city, Madison is situated in the heart if America’s Dairyland. Aside from the city’s farming history, Madison is also known for its lakeside recreation and relaxation on Lake Mendota, Lake Monona, and Lake Waubesa. Interstates 90 and 94 make commuting as easy as possible in the area, even to major metropolises like Milwaukee, located roughly 80 miles east of town on Lake Michigan.
Home to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison draws in many residents for its college sports and top-notch educational opportunities. Between the Badgers basketball and hockey games at the Kohl Center to the Badgers football Games at Camp Randall Coliseum, there’s always a college game to cheer for. The university features all kinds of entertainment options, including the University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum, a major natural attraction in the city.
Olbrich Botanical Gardens is another natural attraction, and Henry Vilas Zoo and Madison Children’s Museum are popular locales for families in the area. Enjoy the artistic vibe in Madison through exploring the Chazen Museum of Art or catching a performance at the Overture Center for the Arts. The Dane County Farmers Market serves up the best local meat and product, and West Towne Mall and East Towne Mall offer endless shopping opportunities.
Explore the City
An aerial view of Madison
Beautiful downtown Madison
Camp Randall Stadium, home of the Wisconsin Badgers
The Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison
The University of Wisconsin-Madison
View of Madison from Lake Mendota
Demographics
Median Household Income
$70,080
Average: $93,760
Education
126,739
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
161,333
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Madison has more renters than homeowners.
Renters
55%
Non-Renters
45%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
40%
Other Education
60%
Rent Trends
As of May 2026, the average apartment rent in Madison, WI is $1,257 for a studio, $1,515 for one bedroom, $1,870 for two bedrooms, and $2,325 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Madison has increased by 1.2% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,515/month
713 Sq Ft
House
$2,737/month
1,521 Sq Ft
Condo
$1,970/month
925 Sq Ft
Townhome
$2,393/month
1,556 Sq Ft
Cost of Living
The cost of living in Madison, WI is 3.8% higher than the national average. Generally, housing in Madison is 8.5% more expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $1,257 - $2,325. You can expect to pay 0% less for groceries, 4.0% less for utilities, and 1.5% less for transportation.
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Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Madison, WI is for everyday living.
Somewhat Walkable
Walkability
20
/ 100
Exceptionally Drivable
Drivability
90
/ 100
Fairly Bikeable
Bikeability
50
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades K-5
431 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
381 Students
Public
Grades K-5
311 Students
Public
Grades K-5
149 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
493 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
725 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
452 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
256 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
263 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
623 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
2,147 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
2,025 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,649 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
Public
Grades 9-12
1,482 Students
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Parks and Recreation
- Allen Centennial Gardens
- Washburn Observatory
- UW Zoological Museum
- UW-Madison Geology Museum
- Madison Children's Museum
Commuter Rail
Airports
- Dane County Regional/Truax Field
Top Apartments in Madison
Houses for Rent in Madison
Property Management Companies in Madison, WI
Forward Management
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44
Communities
-
3,616
Units
-
8
Cities
41 Communities in Madison
Oakbrook Corporation
-
55
Communities
-
5,303
Units
-
31
Cities
18 Communities in Madison
Stone House Development, Inc.
-
16
Communities
-
1,513
Units
-
1
City
16 Communities in Madison
Goldleaf Development
-
15
Communities
-
2,471
Units
-
3
Cities
15 Communities in Madison
Wisconsin Management Company
-
30
Communities
-
2,259
Units
-
15
Cities
14 Communities in Madison
T.R. McKenzie, Inc.
-
12
Communities
-
1,758
Units
-
3
Cities
12 Communities in Madison
Search Nearby Rentals
Nearby City Rentals
Nearby Neighborhood Rentals
Nearby House Rentals
Methodology
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.