Dane County Wisconsin Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Dane County WI was $1,121 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Dane County was $1,179 in 2019. The median rent more accurately depicts rental rates in the middle of the distribution of rents and is thus preferred in the analysis below. 2020 Dane County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Dane County rental vacancy rates, Dane County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Dane County.
Real Gross Rent in Dane County Wisconsin (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| Wisconsin Median Gross Rent | $867 | +0.58% | +3.21% |
| Dane County WI Median Gross Rent | $1,121 | +0.36% | +9.79% |
Dane County WI Real Gross Rent Trends
At $1,121, real median gross rent in Dane County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $1,179, real average gross rent in Dane County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent: Dane County WI Median, Dane County WI Average, Wisconsin Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Dane County
| Date | US Median |
Wisconsin Median |
Dane County WI Median |
Dane County WI Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $867 | $1,121 | $1,179 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $862 | $1,117 | $1,157 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $844 | $1,086 | $1,138 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $840 | $1,021 | $1,089 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $840 | $1,015 | $1,081 |
| 2014 | $986 | $826 | $967 | $1,022 |
| 2013 | $953 | $798 | $937 | $1,021 |
| 2012 | $940 | $790 | $917 | $965 |
| 2011 | $941 | $798 | $944 | $985 |
| 2010 | $955 | $799 | $940 | $1,003 |
| 2009 | $960 | $807 | $943 | $1,012 |
| 2007 | $927 | $791 | $953 | $994 |
| 2005 | $910 | $804 | $933 | $994 |
Dane County Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2019 the rental vacancy rate for Dane County Wisconsin was 3.58% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Dane County Wisconsin
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Wisconsin | 4.93% | -0.46% | +0.08% |
| Dane County WI | 3.58% | -1.25% | +0.65% |
Trends in Dane County WI Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Dane County peaked in 2008 at 8.24%. Since then it has fallen by 4.66% to 3.58%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2015 post peak low of 1.47%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 2.11%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Dane County WI, Wisconsin, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Dane County
| Date | US | Wisconsin | Dane County WI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 4.93% | 3.58% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 5.39% | 4.83% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 5.20% | 4.20% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 4.85% | 2.93% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 4.67% | 1.47% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 4.64% | 1.96% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 5.22% | 2.27% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 5.48% | 3.04% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 5.17% | 3.48% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 6.16% | 6.83% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 5.86% | 3.73% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 6.83% | 7.76% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 6.49% | 6.61% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Dane County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Dane County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 17.36% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Dane County Wisconsin Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| Wisconsin | 16.21% | -0.51% | -0.73% |
| Dane County WI | 17.36% | -1.03% | +0.83% |
Trends in Dane County WI Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Dane County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2018 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 18.39%. Since then it has fallen by 1.03% to 17.36%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Dane County WI, Wisconsin, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Dane County Wisconsin
| Date | US | Wisconsin | Dane County WI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 16.21% | 17.36% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 16.72% | 18.39% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 16.57% | 17.48% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 16.94% | 16.53% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 17.08% | 17.61% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 17.83% | 17.85% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 17.67% | 17.78% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 17.46% | 17.30% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 17.60% | 17.38% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 17.51% | 17.20% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 16.99% | 17.20% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 15.97% | 16.01% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 16.38% | 16.72% |
Renter Fraction in Dane County Wisconsin
You can calculate the renter fraction in Dane County in at least two ways: by housing units or by population. I've gone with the housing units measure here. This measure looks at the number of renting households in Dane County as a fraction of total Dane County households. In 2019 42.71% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Dane County Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| Wisconsin | 32.80% | -0.06% | -0.54% |
| Dane County WI | 42.71% | +0.63% | +2.47% |
Trends in the Dane County WI Renter Fraction
The Dane County household renter fraction peaked in in 2014 at 42.92% and is now 0.21% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Dane County WI, Wisconsin, US
History of Dane County Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Wisconsin | Dane County WI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 32.80% | 42.71% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 32.86% | 42.08% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 33.39% | 41.36% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 33.34% | 40.24% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 33.21% | 42.50% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 33.40% | 42.92% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 32.82% | 42.40% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 32.71% | 41.11% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 32.15% | 41.25% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 31.30% | 39.07% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 31.02% | 39.91% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 29.92% | 34.40% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 29.88% | 40.43% |
1. Gross rent is defined as contract rent plus the estimated average monthly cost of utilities (electricity, gas, water, and sewer) and fuel (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.). Because some rentals include utilities and others don't, gross rent is a way of normalizing the variability. ↩
2. Real dollars are calculated using the CPI-U less shelter series. ↩
3. The rental vacancy rate is computed by dividing the number of vacant units for rent by the sum of the renter-occupied units, vacant units that are for rent, and vacant units that have been rented but not yet occupied. ↩
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