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City Report · WI

Madison

Pop. 278,001·19th most expensive in Wisconsin·Rental market data updated monthly for Madison, WI
Median rent (all units)
$1,656/mo
Year-over-Year
+2.0%
Month-over-Month
Stable
vs US Median
-$309
Stable (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Madison · $1,656
More affordable than 65% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo
Rent Reality Score
52/100
Fairly priced
OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are right about where Madison's 10-year trend predicts.

Actual rent
$1,656/mo
Expected by trend
$1,670/mo
The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Madison's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$1,141
1 BR
$1,354
2 BR
$1,554
3 BR
$2,042
4 BR+
$2,280
Research median
$1,554/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost
$19,872/yr
At $1,656/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are climbing (2.0% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.
Based on rent-price momentum (+2.0% YoY, +0.1% MoM), not inventory.
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Demographics

Who lives here

Madison, WI is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, 59.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
278,001
Median income
$78,050
Median age
31.8
Renters
54%
Age distribution
16.1%
39.2%
22.7%
13%
Under 1816.1%
18–3439.2%
35–5422.7%
55–649%
65+13%
Gender
50%
50%
Male50%
Female50%
Race & ethnicity
71.4%
White71.4%
Black7.2%
Hispanic9.4%
Asian8%
Other4%
Education (25+)
14.6%
21.4%
59.9%
No HS diploma4.2%
HS diploma14.6%
Some college21.4%
Bachelor's+59.9%
Housing tenure
46%
54%
Owner46%
Renter54%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Madison, WI has changed in 5 years

Rent
$1,252 → $1,656
up 32.3%
Income
$70,466 → $78,050
up 10.8%
Population
265,447 → 278,001
up 4.7%
Renter share
52.4% → 54%
+1.6 pts
Bachelor's+
58.5% → 59.9%
+1.4 pts

Rent in Madison, WI has climbed 32.3% since 2021, going from about $1,252 per month to roughly $1,656 today. Median household income grew from $70,466 to $78,050 between 2021 and 2024, a 10.8% shift. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 21.5 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 265,447 to 278,001 between 2021 and 2024, a 4.7% change. About 54% of households rent today, against 52.4% in 2021. Taken together, the five-year picture in Madison, WI reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.

Community

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View Madison rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Madison on your salary?

At $1,656/mo, how Madison rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Madison rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Madison. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Madison

About renting in Madison, WI

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Madison is $1,656/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,141/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,554/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,354/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,042/mo.

At 25% of local median household income ($78,050/yr), Madison ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.0% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Madison an affordable city for renters?

Madison is considered affordable for renters. At $1,656/mo, rent takes approximately 25% of the local median household income ($78,050/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Madison falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Madison?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $66,000/year (~$32/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,656/mo in Madison. The local median household income is $78,050/yr, meaning the typical Madison household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Madison?

Rent in Madison has increased 2.0% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Madison neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Madison are 53714 ($1,461/mo), 53713 ($1,478/mo), and 53719 ($1,601/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Madison is $1,656/mo.

How does Madison rent compare to other cities in Wisconsin?

Madison is one of the pricier cities in Wisconsin for rent, ranking #19 out of 62 tracked cities at $1,656/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Madison?

Middleton is nearby and more affordable at $1,601/mo, which is $55 less than Madison.

What percentage of Madison residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 54% of Madison households are renters, while 46% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Madison has a strong rental market.

How does Madison rent compare to the national average?

Madison's median rent of $1,656/mo is $309 (16%) below the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within Wisconsin, it ranks #19 out of 62 tracked cities.
Income Affordability
25%
AFFORDABLE

At $1,656/mo, rent takes ~25% of Madison's median household income ($78,050/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Madison 25%Benchmark 30%
State income tax3.5–7.65%
Run the Madison affordability calculator →
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Madison, WI

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