CountyScore

Dane County

Wisconsin · WI

#70 in Wisconsin
57.2
County Score

County Report Card

About Dane County, Wisconsin

Above average despite higher costs

Dane County scores 57.2, exceeding the national median of 50.0 and ranking in the top 40% nationally. Strong health and low risk offset the burden of higher housing costs in Wisconsin's capital region.

Below state average due to housing

At 57.2, Dane falls below Wisconsin's 65.6 average, ranking in the lower-middle tier statewide. The gap reflects the metro area's higher cost of living relative to rural counties.

Health and income lead the way

Dane shines with the state's highest health score (82.7) and a strong income score of 40.9, supported by median household earnings of $88,108. Risk score is exceptional at 6.1, the lowest in this group.

Housing costs and taxes strain budgets

Median rent ($1,345/month) and home values ($366,100) are far above rural peers, while effective tax rate of 1.714% is the highest. Cost score of 57.3 reflects these affordability pressures.

For high-earners seeking urban vitality

Dane County suits dual-income families, professionals, and educated workers prioritizing excellent health care, job diversity, and safety. It demands higher earnings but delivers metro-area culture, opportunity, and security.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax54.1Cost57.3SafetyComing SoonHealth82.7SchoolsComing SoonIncome40.9Risk6.1WaterComing Soon
🏛54.1
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠57.3
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼40.9
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤82.7
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡6.1
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Dane County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Taylor County
Texas
57.2
Median income: $66,406
Erie County
New York
57.3
Median income: $71,175
Caldwell County
Texas
57.3
Median income: $68,503
Val Verde County
Texas
57.3
Median income: $59,673
Wharton County
Texas
57.3
Median income: $66,100

Deep Dives

Dane County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Dane County

via TaxByCounty

Dane County leads Wisconsin's tax burden

Dane County's effective tax rate of 1.714% significantly surpasses the national median of 1.436%, while the median tax bill of $6,276 towers above the national median of $2,690. This dramatic difference reflects Dane's high median home value of $366,100—the highest among Wisconsin counties profiled.

Highest effective rate in Wisconsin

At 1.714%, Dane County's effective tax rate ranks among Wisconsin's highest, nearly 0.3 percentage points above the state average of 1.436%. The median tax of $6,276 more than doubles Wisconsin's median of $3,081, reflecting Dane's strong housing market and substantial county needs.

Dane outpaces all regional comparisons

Dane County's $6,276 median tax dwarfs every neighboring county—Columbia's $3,826, Dodge's $3,395, and Door's $3,350—by thousands of dollars annually. While Dane's 1.714% effective rate does exceed regional averages, the primary driver is the county's significantly higher property values centered in Madison.

What your annual tax bill looks like

A homeowner with Dane County's median $366,100 home pays approximately $6,276 per year in property taxes—more than double the national median. Mortgaged properties pay $6,286, while owned-outright homes pay $6,252, representing one of Wisconsin's steepest annual costs.

You might be overassessed

Dane County homeowners facing six-figure tax bills should prioritize assessment reviews—small valuation errors translate to substantial annual losses. Madison's competitive real estate market can create assessment lags; appealing an outdated valuation could save thousands over your ownership.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Dane County

via CostByCounty

Dane's housing costs strain even high earners

Dane County's rent-to-income ratio of 18.3% is the highest among these eight counties and well above national norms, despite having the strongest median household income at $88,108. Median rent of $1,345 per month and median home values of $366,100 reflect Madison's status as Wisconsin's hottest housing market.

Wisconsin's priciest housing market

Dane County's 18.3% rent-to-income ratio is the highest statewide, more than 3 percentage points above Wisconsin's 14.9% average. This elevated burden reflects the Madison metro area's strong job market, population growth, and competitive real estate demand.

Significantly costlier than all regional peers

Dane's $1,345 median rent crushes every neighbor—Clark ($786), Crawford ($809), and Chippewa ($963) all cost far less. Similarly, Dane's $366,100 median home value dwarfs Columbia ($258,700), Door ($305,800), and all other neighbors, underscoring Madison's premium.

Housing claims 37% of gross household income

Dane residents allocate roughly $1,345 in rent or $1,742 in monthly ownership costs, totaling about 37% of the $88,108 median household income. Even with Wisconsin's highest incomes, Dane households dedicate more than one-third of earnings to housing—a level considered severely unaffordable.

Dane demands strong income before relocating

Dane County's 18.3% rent-to-income ratio signals that only well-compensated professionals should consider moving here without significant savings. If Madison's job market justifies the move, budget for housing to consume substantially more of your paycheck than in rural Wisconsin counties like Clark or Crawford.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Dane County

via IncomeByCounty

Dane Leads the Nation in Earnings

Dane County's median household income of $88,108 surpasses the national median of $74,755 by $13,353, ranking it among America's top-earning counties. This exceptional performance reflects Madison's status as a major education, government, and technology hub.

Wisconsin's Highest-Income County

At $88,108, Dane County households earn $16,393 more than Wisconsin's state average of $71,715, commanding the state's income rankings by a substantial margin. No other Wisconsin county comes close to Dane's median household income.

Dane Dominates Regional Earnings

Dane's $88,108 median far exceeds all peer counties, outpacing Columbia County ($82,792) by $5,316 and nearly doubling Crawford County ($63,496). The county's economic dominance creates stark income disparities across south-central Wisconsin.

High Income, High Housing Costs

Despite top-tier incomes, Dane County's rent-to-income ratio of 18.3% is the highest in this comparison, reflecting Madison's competitive housing market. The median home value of $366,100 requires substantial income, consuming 42% of annual earnings for a typical household.

Dane County Wealth Multiplier Strategy

Dane County households earning $88,108 have superior capacity to build generational wealth despite elevated housing costs. Leverage high incomes for aggressive retirement savings, explore real estate investment opportunities, and consider tax-advantaged wealth strategies with professional guidance.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Dane County

via HealthByCounty

Dane County leads the nation

At 80.8 years, Dane residents live 4.4 years longer than the U.S. average of 76.4—among the best in America—and enjoy a 13.2% poor/fair health rate well below the national 18%. The county's 4.6% uninsured rate is extraordinarily low, reflecting near-universal coverage.

Wisconsin's health champion

Dane County dominates Wisconsin health rankings with a life expectancy of 80.8 years—3 years above the state average—and an uninsured rate of 4.6%, nearly 40% lower than Wisconsin's 7.0%. The county represents the state's health potential.

Far ahead of regional peers

Dane's 80.8-year life expectancy exceeds every regional neighbor by at least 2 years, and its 128 primary care providers per 100K dwarfs Clark's 20 and rivals the richest health systems nationwide. With 508 mental health providers per 100K—five times most rural counties—Dane offers unmatched behavioral health access.

Exceptional access, exceptional care

Just 4.6% of Dane residents lack coverage, and with 128 primary care and 508 mental health providers per 100K, the county sustains one of America's strongest healthcare ecosystems. This density of resources enables rapid diagnosis, specialist referrals, and integrated mental health support.

Complete Dane's health story

With 95%+ coverage, Dane has nearly achieved universal access; if you're in the small 4.6% uninsured, enrollment solidifies your participation in the county's health leadership. Visit healthcare.gov to find a plan that fits your needs.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Dane County

via RiskByCounty

Dane faces exceptional national risk

Dane County scores 93.86, earning a Relatively Moderate rating that places it among the nation's highest-risk counties for natural disasters. This score far exceeds Wisconsin's state average of 59.08, reflecting convergence of multiple severe hazards.

Wisconsin's most vulnerable county

Dane County ranks as the highest-risk county in Wisconsin with a composite score of 93.86 that dwarfs statewide and national baselines. No Wisconsin county faces greater overall natural disaster exposure than Dane.

Dramatically riskier than all neighbors

Dane County (93.86) faces nearly twice the disaster risk of Columbia County (81.42), the state's second-most vulnerable area, and vastly exceeds Dodge County (69.91) and other surrounding counties. This makes Dane a unique outlier in Wisconsin's disaster risk landscape.

Tornadoes, floods, earthquakes converge

Dane's tornado risk reaches 97.58, flood risk stands at 94.31, and earthquake risk climbs to 70.67—an extraordinary triple threat. Wildfire exposure (60.24) and even hurricane risk (29.16) significantly exceed state and regional norms.

Multi-layer insurance is essential here

Dane County residents face genuine, exceptional disaster risk and must carry comprehensive homeowners insurance with windstorm, flood, and earthquake coverage. Given the county's extreme exposure across multiple hazard types, work with an insurance professional to ensure your policy matches the genuine threats you face.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.