Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Madison, WI Population, Income & Demographics 2026

CSAMadison-Janesville-Beloit MSAMadison#1/57 Population

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

278,001

Median Agei

31.8

Race & Ethnicityi

White

69.6%193,375

Hispanic/Latino

9.4%26,165

Asian

8%22,178

Black

7.2%19,962

Two or More

5.2%14,448

Other

0.5%1,374

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.2%457

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%42

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

1.9%3,258

High School Diploma

12.8%22,432

Some College (<1 yr)

3.6%6,248

Some College (1+ yr)

10.2%17,992

Associate's Degree

7.6%13,286

Bachelor's Degree

34.2%60,017

Master's Degree

16.1%28,208

Professional Degree

3.7%6,522

Doctorate

5.9%10,426

HS or Higher

95.8%

BA or Higher

59.9%

Graduate+

25.7%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$372,900

Median Renti

$1,413

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

46%59,009

Renter-Occupied

54%69,252

Total Units

133,530

Homeownership

46%

Vacancy Rate

3.9%

Home Values

Under $50K

2.2%1,274

$50K–$100K

0.5%313

$100K–$150K

2.2%1,321

$150K–$200K

5.1%2,985

$200K–$300K

19.9%11,761

$300K–$500K

48.4%28,558

$500K–$1M

19.7%11,602

$1M+

2%1,195

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$78,050

Mean Household Incomei

$105,566

Per Capita Incomei

$49,425

Poverty Ratei

15.7%

Unemploymenti

2.6%

Labor Forcei

166,931

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

6.2%7,954

$10K–$15K

3.2%4,143

$15K–$20K

2.9%3,781

$20K–$25K

2.9%3,741

$25K–$30K

3.3%4,198

$30K–$35K

3.8%4,872

$35K–$40K

3.2%4,070

$40K–$45K

3.1%4,007

$45K–$50K

4.1%5,239

$50K–$60K

6.1%7,848

$60K–$75K

9.7%12,467

$75K–$100K

12.4%15,936

$100K–$125K

10.1%12,964

$125K–$150K

7.4%9,524

$150K–$200K

10.1%12,916

$200K+

11.4%14,601

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

4,773

Residentsi

8,830

Avg. Tenant Renti

$431/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

23 months

Programs in this community

Public Housing728 homes91% occupied$473/mo rent

Government-owned housing managed by local housing authorities

Housing Choice Vouchers324 homes83% occupied$376/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Project Based Section 81,676 homes90% occupied$423/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

811/PRAC63 homes94% occupied$437/mo rent

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $78,050/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $23K/yr

86%

Very low income$23K–$39K/yr

10.8%

Low income$39K–$62K/yr

2.9%

Moderate / aboveOver $62K/yr

0.3%

Who Receives This Housing

62.4% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

57.7% of subsidized households are minority

32.6% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

36.1% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

32,15111.6%

By Region

Top Countries

Mexico

5,255

China

4,331

India

3,491

Korea

921

United Kingdom

887

Canada

591

Philippines

529

Germany

306

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

159,698

Avg. Commutei

19.4 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

162,356

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

8,006(3.4% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

95.8%Insured

4.2%Uninsured