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

Housing Cost Burden

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

As a result of the tight market for both renters and homeowners, many Madison households are “cost burdened,” paying between 30% and 50% of their incomes on housing costs. Those paying more than 50% of their incomes for housing are considered "severely cost-burdened."

While raw numbers in all categories have grown since 2015, consistent with population growth, the proportions of cost-burdened and severely cost-burdened households have not changed significantly.

Graph showing housing cost burden in Madison rising over time
City of Madison Households by Tenure and Cost Burden

View Figure Data
City of Madison Households by Tenure and Cost Burden, 2015-2023
YearSeverely Cost Burdened OwnerCost Burdened OwnerNot Burdened OwnerNot ComputedNot Burdened RenterCost Burdened RenterSeverely Cost Burdened RenterTotal
20152,7436,75539,2912,24927,04013,59614,248103,673
20163,1866,83442,7791,53827,42713,99213,793108,011
20173,5937,10842,3922,79126,89912,35915,893108,244
20183,0077,14840,8062,19129,79613,41615,299109,472
20193,0165,82544,3562,36232,08612,79614,489112,568
20203,1306,22043,2422,10229,11213,03814,399109,141
20215,4707,57946,4703,41230,27113,22117,052120,063
20223,8486,73745,1662,82531,62013,43716,255117,063
20233,9987,17746,5963,20132,77014,56416,842121,947
% of 2023 Total3%6%38%N/A27%12%14%N/A
Change 2015-20231,2554227,305N/A5,7309682,594N/A

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (2015–2023), Table B25074

In 2021, of all Madison households:

  • 1 in 8 Renters paying >50% of income on housing
  • 1 in 8 Renters paying 30-50% of income on housing
  • 2 in 8 Renters paying <30% of income on housing
  • 1 in 8 Homeowners paying >30% of income on housing
  • 3 of 8 Homeowners paying <30% of income on housing

Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy data for 2021 provides a breakdown of these data by race, showing the uneven distribution of housing cost burden in Madison.

Graph showing Black households are more likely to be housing cost burdened in Madison
Percent Housing Cost Burdened by Tenure and Race

View Figure Data
Housing Cost Burdened Households by Tenure and Race
RaceSeverely Cost Burdened OwnerCost Burdened OwnerNot Burdened OwnerNot ComputedNot Burdened RenterCost Burdened RenterSeverely Cost Burdened RenterTotal Computed
White, non-Hispanic2,8555,63039,78086523,6958,71510,20090,875
Black110205945892,7101,3951,5306,895
Asian3103052,2755953,4507251,6708,735
Hispanic/Latino1702751,615651,8451,0808005,785

Source: HUD CHAS 5-Year Estimates (2017–2021) for Madison, WI, Table 9

Next Chapter

New Housing Construction

Was this page helpful to you? * required

Housing Initiatives