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Data on this report is based on areas within the legal city boundary, outlined in black on the map. Any additional neighborhoods shown on the map are associated with the city by name and are included for reference only.



Madison, WI Real Estate Market

Source & Methodology

Analytics built by:   Location, Inc.

Raw data sources:   American Community Survey (U.S. Census Bureau), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Federal Housing Finance Agency.

Date(s) & Update Frequency:
  • Home Values, Rents: Reflects Q4 2023. Updated quarterly.
  • Setting, Housing Stock, Homeownership: 2022 (latest available). Updated annually.

Methodology:   NeighborhoodScout uses over 600 characteristics to build a neighborhood profile… Read more about Scout's Real Estate Data

Madison, WI Housing Market Trends

With a population of 272,903, 120,509 total housing units (homes and apartments), and a median house value of $449,844, Madison real estate is some of the most expensive in Wisconsin, although Madison home values aren't among America's most expensive.

Large apartment complexes or high rise apartments are the single most common housing type in Madison, accounting for 41.98% of the city's housing units. Other types of housing that are prevalent in Madison include single-family detached homes ( 41.16%), duplexes, homes converted to apartments or other small apartment buildings ( 11.38%), and a few row houses and other attached homes ( 4.94%). This particular housing mix is relatively uncommon and characteristic of cities that are compact and walkable, and which often have a lively downtown.

People in Madison primarily live in small (one, two or no bedroom) units, chiefly found in large apartment complexes or high rise apartments. Madison has a mixture of owner-occupied and renter-occupied housing.

There is a lot of housing in Madison built from 1970 to 1999 so parts of town may have that "Brady Bunch" look of homes popular in the '70s and early '80s, although some of these houses were built up through the early '90s as well. There is also a lot of housing in Madison built between 1940-1969 ( 25.28%). A lesser amount of the housing stock also hails from between 2000 and later ( 25.22%). There's also some housing in Madison built before 1939 ( 13.93%).

Madison Home Appreciation Rates

Appreciation rates for homes in Madison have been tracking above average for the last ten years, according to NeighborhoodScout data. The cumulative appreciation rate over the ten years has been 89.86%, which ranks in the top 40% nationwide. This equates to an annual average Madison house appreciation rate of 6.62%.

Appreciation rates are so strong in Madison that despite a nationwide downturn in the housing market, Madison real estate has continued to appreciate in value faster than most communities. Looking at just the latest twelve months, Madison appreciation rates continue to be some of the highest in America, at 7.23%, which is higher than appreciation rates in 76.34% of the cities and towns in the nation. Based on the last twelve months, short-term real estate investors have found good fortune in Madison. Madison appreciation rates in the latest quarter were at 0.57%, which equates to an annual appreciation rate of 2.31%.

Relative to Wisconsin, our data show that Madison's latest annual appreciation rate is lower than 90% of the other cities and towns in Wisconsin.

One very important thing to keep in mind is that these are average appreciation rates for the city. Individual neighborhoods within Madison differ in their investment potential, sometimes by a great deal. Fortunately, you can use NeighborhoodScout to pinpoint the exact neighborhoods in Madison - or in any city or town - that have the best track record of real estate appreciation, by the latest quarter, the last year, 2 years, 5 years, 10 years, or even since 2000, to assist you in making the best Madison real estate investment or home purchase decisions.

Average Home Values

Median Home Value

$449,844

Madison, WI Home Prices
> $1,305,000
$978,001 - $1,305,000
$652,001 - $978,000
$522,001 - $652,000
$391,001 - $522,000
$261,001 - $391,000
$131,001 - $261,000
$65,001 - $131,000
$0 - $65,000
2.4%
2.4%
3.1%
3.1%
12.0%
12.0%
16.1%
16.1%
24.4%
24.4%
28.4%
28.4%
10.2%
10.2%
0.7%
0.7%
2.4%
2.4%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes
Very High

for Wisconsin

High

for nation

Number of Homes And Apartments:

120,509

Madison Appreciation Rates

Rent & Ownership

Average Market Rent:

$1,823 / per month

Homeownership Rate

Owners
Renters
44.8%
44.8%
55.2%
55.2%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes

Vacancy Rate

Vacant
Occupied
4.1%
4.1%
95.9%
95.9%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes

Housing Market Details

Age of Homes

2000 or Newer
1970 - 1999
1940 - 1969
1939 or Older
25.2%
25.2%
35.6%
35.6%
25.3%
25.3%
13.9%
13.9%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes

Types of Homes

Single-Family
Townhomes
Small Apt. Buildings
Apt. Complexes
Mobile Homes
Other
41.2%
41.2%
4.9%
4.9%
11.4%
11.4%
42.0%
42.0%
0.5%
0.5%
0.0%
0.0%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes

Home Size

No Bedroom
1 Bedroom
2 Bedrooms
3 Bedrooms
4 Bedrooms
5 or more bedrooms
6.7%
6.7%
18.2%
18.2%
30.2%
30.2%
30.0%
30.0%
12.4%
12.4%
2.5%
2.5%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes