State rank#2 of 72
Smallest county572,674 residentsMilwaukee County
Published county profile · Official data · FIPS 55025
Dane County, Wisconsin
County-level income, housing, jobs, education, health, and population with transparent statewide comparisons and source periods.
Population572,674
Household income$89,975
Unemployment2.3%
Life expectancy80.8 years
County overview
Living metrics at a glance
Dane County has 572,674 residents and ranks #2 by population among Wisconsin county equivalents. Median household income is $89,975. The annual-average unemployment rate is 2.3%. Its clearest relative strength is unemployment rate. Its county population is above the state county median. Every figure below stays at county scope.
Within Wisconsin
County population range
The marker places this county between the smallest and largest county populations in the state.
Relocation guide
Moving to Dane County: what to check
Data narrows the search; municipality, neighborhood, commute, schools, and current listings complete the decision.
Before moving
Before moving, compare municipalities inside Dane County, because county averages do not describe every neighborhood. Review current housing inventory, commute destinations, school districts, healthcare access, and job locations. Its clearest relative strength is unemployment rate.
Cost and housing
Housing benchmarks are $394,800 median home value and $1,398/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $89,975, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
Who it may suit
Dane County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing unemployment rate, bachelor’s degree or higher, and mental health access. College attainment is 55.3% and life expectancy is 80.8 years.
Potential advantages
- Unemployment rate: 2.3%, rank #1 of 72 available Wisconsin counties.
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 55.3%, rank #1 of 72 available Wisconsin counties.
- Mental health access: 1 per 197 residents, rank #1 of 72 available Wisconsin counties.
Trade-offs to check
- Median gross rent: $1,398/mo, rank #72 of 72; investigate local variation before moving.
- Median home value: $394,800, rank #71 of 72; investigate local variation before moving.
- Primary care access: 1 per 781 residents, rank #7 of 71; investigate local variation before moving.
Income, housing, jobs, education & health
County metrics within Wisconsin
Rank and range use only counties in Wisconsin with that field available. A lower rank number is stronger when the metric has a clear direction.
Median household income
$89,975
$89,975; above the state county median of $72,922.
State rank #6 of 72 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median home value
$394,800
$394,800; above the state county median of $224,800.
State rank #71 of 72 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median gross rent
$1,398/mo
$1,398/mo; above the state county median of $878/mo.
State rank #72 of 72 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Unemployment rate
2.3%
2.3%; below the state county median of 3.2%.
State rank #1 of 72 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Bachelor’s degree or higher
55.3%
55.3%; above the state county median of 25%.
State rank #1 of 72 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Life expectancy
80.8 years
80.8 years; above the state county median of 78 years.
State rank #5 of 72 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Poor or fair health
13.2%
13.2%; below the state county median of 16%.
State rank #6 of 72 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Uninsured
4.6%
4.6%; below the state county median of 6.8%.
State rank #6 of 72 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Primary care access
1 per 781 residents
1 per 781 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 1,715 residents.
State rank #7 of 71 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Mental health access
1 per 197 residents
1 per 197 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 621 residents.
State rank #1 of 72 · County Health Rankings & RoadmapsCommon questions
Dane County FAQ
Is Dane County a good place to live?
Dane County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing unemployment rate, bachelor’s degree or higher, and mental health access. College attainment is 55.3% and life expectancy is 80.8 years.
What should I know before moving to Dane County?
Start with housing, employment, commute, schools, healthcare access, and the specific municipality. Housing benchmarks are $394,800 median home value and $1,398/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $89,975, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the population of Dane County?
Dane County has 572,674 residents in the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year dataset.
What is the FIPS code for Dane County?
The five-digit county FIPS code is 55025; the parent state FIPS is 55.
What is the median household income in Dane County?
The ACS median household income is $89,975.
How much does housing cost in Dane County?
Housing benchmarks are $394,800 median home value and $1,398/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $89,975, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the unemployment rate in Dane County?
The BLS LAUS annual-average unemployment rate is 2.3%.
Similar population
Nearby counties in the state ranking
Source and gate
Methodology and source periods
All records join by five-digit FIPS. Profiles publish when ACS county population is at least 100,000 or the county is the state’s largest. Missing source values remain unavailable and are excluded from ranks. Runtime data was generated 2026-07-26.
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