Madison, WI — City Profile & Demographics 2026
Population 275,568 · Wisconsin · Updated May 2026
Population
275,568
Median Income
$76,983
Home Price
$429,253
Unemployment
2.7%
Poverty Rate
16.2%
Bachelor's+
59.2%
Full Demographics — Madison, WI
27 metrics across 8 categories, compared to US national averages.
Demographics
| Metric | Madison, WI | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 275,568 | — | |
| Pop. Density / sq mi | N/A | — | |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 38.9 | |
| Foreign Born | 11.6% | 13.8% | |
| White | 73.0% | 61.6% | |
| Black | 7.1% | 12.4% | |
| Asian | 8.0% | 6.0% | |
| Hispanic | 9.3% | 18.7% | |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | 13.2% |
Economy
| Metric | Madison, WI | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $76,983 | $74,580 | |
| Per Capita Income | $48,557 | $40,480 | |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $61,837 | $64,500 | |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.7% | 3.8% | |
| Poverty Rate | 16.2% | 11.5% | |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 59.2% | 35.8% |
Housing
Source: Zillow ZHVI, Census ACS
| Metric | Madison, WI | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $429,253 | $410,000 | |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% | 65.4% |
Safety
| Metric | Madison, WI | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 309 | 380 | |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 1392 | 1950 |
Health
| Metric | Madison, WI | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 32.7% | 33.0% | |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 7.4% | 11.6% | |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 16.5% | 14.0% | |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 7.9% | 9.6% | |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 20.8% | 15.5% | |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 10.2% | 12.5% |
Climate
| Metric | Madison, WI | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 46.7°F | 54.5°F | |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 37.3 in | 30.2 in |
Air Quality
| Metric | Madison, WI | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 9.3 µg/m³ | 8.5 µg/m³ | |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 55.0% | 70.0% |
Commute
| Metric | Madison, WI | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 21.2 min | 27.0 min |
Compare Madison with Another City
Popular Comparisons
About Madison, WI
Madison is a city in Wisconsin, United States. With a population of 275,568, it is one of the notable cities in the region. Compared to the US average, Madison shows stronger educational attainment (59.2% bachelor's degree vs 35.8% bachelor's degree US avg) and unemployment (2.7% unemployment vs 3.8% unemployment US avg). However, the city has a higher poverty rate at 16.2% poverty rate, compared to the US average of 11.5% poverty rate. Data sourced from US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Survey (2023), CDC PLACES, FBI CDE, NOAA, and EPA.