Ground view looking up at a construction crane and high-rise development
Department of Planning & Community & Economic Development

City of Madison Growth Trends

(Note: This page is part of the 2025 Housing Snapshot report)

It is important for City of Madison staff and policymakers to understand how much growth is anticipated in order to plan for housing, services, and infrastructure. As of 2025, Madison has already added about 20,000 new residents since 2020, and planners project almost 100,000 more people by 2050.

Graph showing Madison's projected population increasing to more than 385,000 in 2050
Population and Household Projections to 2050 for Madison, WI

View Figure Data
Population and Household Projections
YearPopulationHouseholds
2010233,209102,516
2015243,122104,087
2020269,840126,070
2025*290,845134,817
2030*309,283144,172
2035*328,893154,179
2040*346,649163,703
2045*365,421173,836
2050*385,269184,619

* denotes projection

Sources: ACS 5-Year Estimates (2010–2020); City of Madison Planning Division (2025–2050)

Madison has experienced continued growth for decades, having consistently been the fastest growing Wisconsin city based on numerical increase, and among the fastest by growth rate (percentage growth). Madison's growth rates for renter households, owner households and higher-income households have increased in recent years. Since 2010, Madison’s population has grown by approximately 1.5% annually, which is faster than that of previous decades (about 1% annually). Household growth has occurred slightly faster than that of population growth due to fewer people per household, which reflects national trends.

Comparison of Recent Population and Household Growth Rates in Madison, WI
GroupCompound Annual Growth Rate (2010-2020)Total % Growth (2010-2020)Compound Annual Growth Rate (2020-2023)Total % Growth (2020-2023)
Population1.2%12.7%2.8%8.5%
Households (Total)1.3%13.9%4.0%12.5%
Renter Households2.2%24.5%4.7%14.7%
Owner Households0.4%4.1%3.2%10.0%

There are several primary drivers for Madison’s steady, continued population growth:

  • Job growth in stable industries

    Such as healthcare, education, advanced manufacturing, biomedical research, IT, and professional and financial services.

  • University of Wisconsin-Madison

    Attracts students from across the nation and beyond, and investment in research-related industries.

  • Exceptional healthcare services and access

    Madison's major hospitals and clinics form a regional healthcare hub.

  • Natural resources and cultural amenities

    Including walking, biking, and transit access and connections.

Overall, there has been growth of higher-income households and a flat or declining proportion of lower-income households. Some of this loss could reflect wage inflation, but it seems likely that many lower-income households are “priced out” of Madison—moving instead to other communities in or beyond Dane County with lower direct housing costs.

Renter household growth has continued to increase, though there has also been recent growth in ownership markets, possibly from demand created by higher-income households within the city. Demand for homeownership appears to be outpacing supply of homeownership options attainable by first-time homebuyers, even those with higher incomes.

Graph showing distribution of household incomes in Madison with more higher income households in recent years
Madison Households by Income, 2015-2023

View Figure Data
Madison Households by Income, 2015-2023
Year<$50K Households$50-100K Households>$100K Households
201547,78632,20024,101
201647,47832,32325,988
201746,01633,76328,111
201843,99333,95330,267
201942,84634,24133,207
202041,46535,47034,897
202141,58737,14938,588
202240,52835,44244,539
202341,74135,69848,348

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (2015–2023), Tables DP03, DP05, B25118

Renter household growth has remained consistent and has continued to increase, though there has also been recent growth in ownership markets, possibly from demand created by higher-income households within the city. However, growth in ownership markets appears to be outpacing the growth of new supply of ownership units (new construction), which is indicative of both the tightening of the ownership market overall, as well as a transition of low-density and small-structure rental units in the city converting to ownership as they enter the sales market.

Madison Households by Tenure, 2015-2023
YearTotal HouseholdsRenter HouseholdsOwner Households
2015104,08754,29449,793
2016105,78955,38550,404
2017107,89056,50051,390
2018108,57357,44351,130
2019110,29458,44951,845
2020111,83258,49953,333
2021117,32461,46855,856
2022120,50963,84956,660
2023125,78767,11958,668

Methodology: These figures are based on data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau through their American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. The numbers for total population were retrieved from table DP05. The number of total households and breakdown of households by income were retrieved from table DP03. The number of households by tenure was retrieved from table B25118.

Next Chapter

Who Lives in Madison?

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