Data through September 2026 · updated 2026-11-07 · free, from Zillow, Realtor.com, the Census Bureau and other public sources
Typical home value$445,747+3.1% YoY · prices are rising fast
Market right nowBalanced, leaning buyersMore homes for sale than last year, 21% have cut their price
Income needed to buy, per year$96,629About 1.1× the local median income ($90,075): a stretch for a typical household
Days on market60 daysSlower than a year ago: buyers have time to negotiate
Next 12 months+3.6%Zillow expects prices to rise slightly
The typical home in Madison, WI is worth $445,747, up 3.1% from a year ago. That is well above what local incomes have historically supported: fair value is about $384,607, so the area is 15.9% overvalued. It is a balanced market, leaning toward buyers: homes take about 60 days to sell, listings are up 18% from a year ago, 21% of listings have had a price cut. Zillow expects prices to rise about 3.6% over the next year. A household needs about $96,629 a year to afford the typical home here at today's 7.18% mortgage rate (20% down, payment at 30% of income); the median household earns $90,075. Typical rent is $1,780 a month, or $2,804 for a house. In the latest IRS figures, 452 more people moved in than out.
Home value over time
Solid: typical home value · dashed: fair value (household income × the 20-year average price-to-income ratio). Sources: FHFA, Zillow, U.S. Census Bureau.
Prices and affordability
Typical home value
$445,747
Change in 1 year
+3.1%
Overvalued %
+15.9%
Show 7 more
Fair home value
$384,607
Change in 5 years
+28.8%
Zillow forecast, next 12 months
+3.6%
Home value to income
4.9×
Monthly mortgage payment (20% down)
$2,416
Income needed to afford it
$96,629
Property tax rate
1.59%
Rent and investing
Typical rent
$1,780
Typical rent for houses
$2,804
Price-to-rent ratio
20.9×
Show 3 more
HUD Fair Market Rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,485
Gross rental yield
4.79%
Cap rate (estimate)
3.11%
Market activity
Listings vs a year ago
+17.6%
Days on market
60
Listings with a price cut
21.4%
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Homes for sale
1,505
Pending sales per 100 listings
50
Asking price per sq ft
$238
People and jobs
Median household income
$90,075
Population change (1 year)
+0.6%
Unemployment rate
2.5%
Show 4 more
Population
709,685
Income adjusted for cost of living
$92,575
Net moves in (IRS)
+452
Cost of living (US = 100)
97.3
Schools, risk and environment
School rating (1 to 10)
6.3
FEMA hazard risk score (0 to 100)
88.0
Unhealthy air days a year
6
Show 4 more
Flood risk score
88.0
Wildfire risk score
55.8
Walkability (1 to 20)
10.4
Road, rail and air noise
54 dB
Questions people ask
Is Madison, WI overvalued?
Home prices in Madison, WI are well above what local incomes have historically supported: fair value is about $384,607, so the area is 15.9% overvalued.
Is Madison, WI a buyer's or seller's market?
Madison, WI is a balanced market, leaning toward buyers: homes take about 60 days to sell, listings are up 18% from a year ago, 21% of listings have had a price cut.
Are home prices going down in Madison, WI?
Home values in Madison, WI are up 3.1% over the last year. Zillow's forecast for the next 12 months is +3.6%.
How much do you need to earn to buy a home in Madison, WI?
A household needs about $96,629 a year to afford the typical home in Madison, WI at today's 7.18% mortgage rate (20% down, payment at 30% of income); the median household earns $90,075.