Dane County, Wisconsin: commercial real estate data.
Dane County, Wisconsin had an estimated 588,347 residents on July 1, 2024, up 4.8 percent since the 2020 census base of 561,491, across 1,197 square miles. County output reached $62.81 bn in 2024, 14,765 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 720 7(a) approvals worth $324.4 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Dane County
How many people live in Dane County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024572,674
- Households251,529
- Average household size2.28
- Median household income$89,975
- Median age35.7
- Median gross rent$1,398 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$394,800
- Home value to household income4.4 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income18.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher55.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree22.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over381,793
- Population under 18112,792
- Share under 1819.7 percent
- Population 65 and over86,269
- Share 65 and over15.1 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64373,613
- Civilian labor force332,250
- Unemployment rate2.4 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over72.2 percent
- Rank by population among Wisconsin counties2nd of 72
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included124th of 3,222
Dane County is the 2nd largest of 72 Wisconsin counties by population. A median home costs 4.4 times median household income, which is seriously unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 19.7 percent against 15.1 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Dane County
Is Dane County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024588,347
- Census 2020 base population561,491
- Population change since the 2020 census base4.78 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20248,608
- Births, 20245,570
- Deaths, 20243,887
- Natural change, 20241,683
- Net domestic migration, 2024976
- Net international migration, 20245,922
- Total net migration, 20246,898
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20242,182
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents561st of 3,144
The county has grown 4.78 percent since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Dane County
Where are people moving to Dane County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving14,755
- People arriving, from those returns21,614
- Tax returns filed by households leaving15,936
- Net household movement-1,181
- Adjusted gross income arriving$1.08 bn
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-246.1 m
- Average income of an arriving household$72,892
- Average income of a leaving household$82,934
- Largest single originMilwaukee County (661 households)
- Largest single destinationMilwaukee County (841 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee County | 661 | 901 | $39.1 m |
| Cook County | 601 | 882 | $50.2 m |
| Rock County | 587 | 852 | $31.1 m |
| Columbia County | 513 | 780 | $37.6 m |
| Waukesha County | 411 | 593 | $28.6 m |
| Jefferson County | 366 | 559 | $22.0 m |
| Sauk County | 356 | 504 | $21.1 m |
| Green County | 250 | 430 | $20.1 m |
Households arriving report $10,042 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Milwaukee County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Dane County
What is the Dane County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$62.81 bn
- County GDP, 2023$59.18 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20246.1 percent
- GDP change over five years34.9 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Wisconsin areas BEA publishes2nd of 72
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes95th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$109,671
Output grew 6.1 percent in the latest year and 34.9 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Dane County
Employment by industry in Dane County
- Covered employment, annual average359,249
- Establishments reporting18,084
- Average annual pay$74,481
- Average weekly wage$1,432
- Health care and social assistance, employment42,450
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$74,523
- Retail trade, employment29,993
- Retail trade, average annual pay$38,610
- Accommodation and food services, employment28,299
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$24,526
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment26,499
- Professional, scientific and technical services, average annual pay$104,014
- Manufacturing, employment26,318
- Information, employment19,267
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 42,450 | 2,855 | $74,523 |
| Retail trade | 29,993 | 1,557 | $38,610 |
| Accommodation and food services | 28,299 | 1,430 | $24,526 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 26,499 | 2,808 | $104,014 |
| Manufacturing | 26,318 | 560 | $77,670 |
| Information | 19,267 | 439 | $142,042 |
| Construction | 17,752 | 1,312 | $83,346 |
| Finance and insurance | 17,684 | 1,016 | $116,277 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 42,450 jobs, 11.8 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Dane County
How many businesses are in Dane County?
- Establishments, all industries14,765
- Employment at those establishments314,435
- Annual payroll$22.38 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents25.8
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Dane County
Building permits in Dane County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 20245,477
- Declared construction value permitted$1.16 bn
- Single family units authorized1,408
- Multifamily units authorized4,069
- Multifamily share of units74.3 percent
- Average declared value per unit$211,456
- Units authorized per 1,000 households21.8
Multifamily is 74.3 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Dane County
SBA loans in Dane County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded720
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$324.4 m
- Average 7(a) approval$450,538
- Median 7(a) approval$200,000
- 10th percentile approval$30,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,060,500
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)8,601
- Jobs per approval11.9
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active89
- Distinct industries receiving approvals217
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer8.3 percent
- Loans on real estate terms60
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter608
- Franchise loans97
- Franchise share of approvals13.5 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFitness and Recreational Sports Centers (32)
- Most active lenderSummit CU (115)
- 504 approvals recorded362
- 504 gross approval dollars$362.1 m
- Average 504 approval$1,000,320
- Median 504 approval$647,500
- Distinct CDCs active6
- 504 jobs per approval9.5
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved9.5
- Most active CDCWBD, Inc. (341)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$686.5 m
The average approval of $450,538 sits well above the median of $200,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 8.3 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Dane County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Dane County
Do SBA loans in Dane County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded178
- Paid in full166
- Charged off12
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans6.7 percent
- Status: Paid in full166
- Status: Exempt from disclosure402
- Status: Cancelled92
- Status: Charged off12
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed48
Of the 178 loans that have reached a final outcome, 6.7 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Dane County
SBA lending by place in Dane County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending27
- Madison, approvals342
- Sun Prairie, approvals53
- Middleton, approvals53
- Waunakee, approvals43
- Verona, approvals43
- Fitchburg, approvals22
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Madison | 342 | $139,964,800 |
| Sun Prairie | 53 | $28,214,018 |
| Middleton | 53 | $19,014,500 |
| Waunakee | 43 | $25,300,500 |
| Verona | 43 | $11,367,700 |
| Fitchburg | 22 | $12,030,900 |
| Cottage Grove | 18 | $13,419,300 |
| Oregon | 18 | $12,021,000 |
| 19 other borrower cities | 128 | $63,054,800 |
Madison accounts for 342 approvals against 53 in Sun Prairie. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Dane County
How large is Dane County?
- Land area1,197 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Wisconsin counties8th of 72
- Width, east to west41.9 mi
- Height, north to south30.9 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary7
- Residents per square mile of land478
- Establishments per square mile12.34
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Dane County
Flood risk in Dane County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Dane County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 550077
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book28
- Of those, participating in the NFIP27
- NFIP participation rate96.4 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 8
- Communities carrying a CRS class1
- Radon levels in Dane County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/LZone 1
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Dane County (community 550077), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Dane County in radon zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 8, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 96.4 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Dane County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Dane County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024572,674
- Households251,529
- Average household size2.28
- Median household income$89,975
- Median age35.7
Common questions
Dane County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Dane County, Wisconsin?
The Census Bureau estimates 588,347 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 572,674, in 251,529 households, ranking 2nd of 72 Wisconsin counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Dane County's population growing?
The population has grown 4.78 percent since the 2020 census base of 561,491, to 588,347 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 5,570 births against 3,887 deaths, with net migration of 6,898. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Dane County?
$89,975. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $394,800, which is 4.4 times income, and median gross rent is $1,398 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Dane County?
14,765 establishments, employing 314,435 people with an annual payroll of $22.38 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Dane County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 42,450 jobs, 11.8 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 359,249 jobs at an average annual pay of $74,481, or $1,432 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Dane County?
720 7(a) approvals totaling $324.4 m since FY2020, across 89 lenders, with a median approval of $200,000, plus 362 504 approvals worth $362.1 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Dane County get paid back?
Of the 178 loans that have reached a final outcome, 166 were paid in full and 12 charged off, a charge-off rate of 6.7 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in Dane County?
5,477 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $1.16 bn. Multifamily was 74.3 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Dane County?
Zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Dane County come from?
The largest single origin is Milwaukee County, with 661 households. Arriving households report an average income of $72,892 against $82,934 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Dane County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Dane County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Dane County
Cities and places in Dane.
28 Census places lie wholly or partly in Dane County. All 28 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | city | 278,001 | 342 | Wholly in this county |
| Sun Prairie | city | 37,570 | 53 | Wholly in this county |
| Fitchburg | city | 32,619 | 22 | Wholly in this county |
| Middleton | city | 22,301 | 53 | Wholly in this county |
| Waunakee | village | 15,687 | 43 | Wholly in this county |
| Verona | city | 15,232 | 43 | Wholly in this county |
| Stoughton | city | 13,033 | 12 | Wholly in this county |
| Oregon | village | 11,547 | 18 | Wholly in this county |
| DeForest | village | 11,501 | 13 | Wholly in this county |
| Windsor | village | 9,452 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| McFarland | village | 9,160 | 15 | Wholly in this county |
| Monona | city | 8,527 | 12 | Wholly in this county |
| Cottage Grove | village | 8,513 | 18 | Wholly in this county |
| Mount Horeb | village | 7,736 | 11 | Wholly in this county |
| Edgerton | city | 6,014 | 1 | 13.0 percent here, 87.0 percent Rock County |
| Cross Plains | village | 4,107 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Marshall | village | 3,778 | 6 | Wholly in this county |
| Belleville | village | 2,579 | 6 | 91.8 percent here, 8.2 percent Green County |
| Deerfield | village | 2,541 | 7 | Wholly in this county |
| Shorewood Hills | village | 2,149 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Black Earth | village | 1,736 | 9 | Wholly in this county |
| Mazomanie | village | 1,694 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Cambridge | village | 1,617 | 4 | 89.1 percent here, 10.9 percent Jefferson County |
| Brooklyn | village | 1,408 | 8 | 52.6 percent here, 47.4 percent Green County |
| Maple Bluff | village | 1,329 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Dane | village | 1,067 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Blue Mounds | village | 795 | 7 | Wholly in this county |
| Rockdale | village | 201 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 5 of the county's 720 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Dane County, the largest being Lodi (3), Elkhorn (1), Westport (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.