Economic Intelligence | Any Geography

Dane County, WI

Welcome to Dane County.

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Dane County is the second most populous in the state of Wisconsin, representing 10% of the state's population.

Total GDP for the county increased 29%, in the five years ending in 2022, to reach $53.7 billion.

Between 2000 and 2024 presidential elections, Dane County voted for Democratic candidates every time and never voted for Republicans.

Dane County comprises Madison, WI metropolitan area.

The largest city in the county is Madison.

Surrounding counties and county equivalents include: Columbia County, Dodge County, Green County, Iowa County, Jefferson County, Rock County, and Sauk County.

Presidential Election

🔵 Democrat    🔴 Republican

Election Year
Candidates (Party)*
Votes (% Total)Landslide
Scale**
🔵🔴
2000
🔴George W. Bush
🔵Al Gore
61.15%32.56%++
2004
🔴George W. Bush
🔵John Kerry
66.02%32.95%++
2008
🔵Barack Obama
🔴John McCain
72.8%25.82%++
2012
🔵Barack Obama
🔴Mitt Romney
71.03%27.5%++
2016
🔴Donald Trump
🔵Hillary Clinton
70.17%22.99%++
2020
🔵Joe Biden
🔴Donald Trump
75.46%22.85%+++
2024
🔴Donald Trump
🔵Kamala Harris
Notes:
*Presidential Tickets
2000 (R) George W. Bush & Dick Cheney; (D) Al Gore & Joe Lieberman
2004 (R) George W. Bush & Dick Cheney; (D)John Kerry & John Edwards
2008 (D) Barack Obama & Joe Biden; (R) John McCain & Sarah Palin
2012 (D) Barack Obama & Joe Biden; (R) Mitt Romney & Paul Ryan
2016 (R) Donald Trump & Mike Pence; (D) Hillary Clinton & Tim Kaine
2020 (D) Joe Biden & Kamala Harris; (R) Donald Trump & Mike Pence
2024 (R) Donald Trump & JD Vance; (D) Kamala Harris & Tim Waltz
**Landslide Scale (county)
+ Victory margin was less than 20 percent
++ Victory margin was between 20 to 49 percentage points of more votes
+++ Victory margin was more than half but below three quarters
++++ Victory margin was three quarters or more

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Economic Significance

Key IndustryAs %
County GDP
GDP
Growth*
County GDP1100%29%
Government
Enterprises
16%27%
Private Industries84%29%
Agriculture1%86%
Mining<1%39%
Utilities<1%-13%
Construction4%30%
Manufacturing7%34%
– Durable4%22%
– Nondurable3%50%
Trade11%29%
– Wholesale5%22%
– Retail6%35%
Transportation1%44%
Information11%35%
Finance & Insurance10%14%
Real Estate11%19%
Professional &
Business Services
14%30%
Educational Services1%16%
Healthcare &
Social Services
7%38%
Arts, Recreation &
Entertainment
1%54%
Accommodation &
Food Services
2%43%
Other Services22%30%
Notes:
*Growth rates are based on most recent five-year value available and are updated dynamically
1. All industry total.
2. Includes various repairs, maintenance, personal care, religious organizations, social and professional organizations etc.

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Local Vibrancy

Total*Vibrancy
Indicator
(1-100)**
🚙 Automobile Dealers7985
🪑 Furniture &
Home Furnishings
9182
📺 Electronics & Appliance3274
🛒 Grocery Stores14787
🍾 Beer, Wine & Liquor Stores4880
⚕️ Health & Personal Care15988
⛽ Gasoline Stations16789
👕 Clothing Stores13382
👠 Shoe Stores2563
🧳 Luggage, Leather Goods & Jewelry3572
🏸 Sporting Goods5482
📚 Book Stores & News Dealers1360
🏬 Department Stores5076
💐 Florists1873
🎁 Gift, Novelty & Souvenir Shops2768
🐕 Pet & Pet Supplies 2669
🍺 Bars & Taverns16093
🍽️ Full-service restaurants47891
🍔 Limited-service restaurants44389
🏠 Offices of Real Estate Agents & Brokers33488
🛏️ Traveler Accommodation11188
Notes:
* Total counts of establishments are places of business.
** Vibrancy score is based on comparisons of relevant establishments per square mile of land area among all counties and county equivalents in the United States; A score of 100 means the county is in the top one percentile.

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Wealth Indicators

Household Income by Distribution
As % County’s
Total Household Income
Average Household Income
Maximum Household Income
Top 5%120%$307,000 N/A
Top 20%47%$176,300 $182,500
Next highest 20%23%$88,400 $106,900
Middle 20%16%$60,500 $73,600
Second lowest 20%10%$36,700 $47,000
Bottom 20%4%$16,600 $26,600
Notes:
1. Households with aggregate income above 95% of all households in the county
% Total
Households
Average Household
Income*
Wages & Salaries66%$74,400
Self-Employment13%$34,900
Investment Income123%$17,200
Social Security42%$22,400
Supplemental Security5%$11,900
Public Assistance2%Below $10,000
Retirement29%$24,400
Notes:
* Calculation based on households claim to have specific source of income; Households may have more than one source of income
1Includes interest, dividends, and net rental income

Under
25*
Age 25
to 49*
Age 50
to 64*
Age 65
& Older*
Below
$25K
4%3%2%3%
$25K
– $49K
3%5%4%5%
$50K
– $99K
3%11%9%7%
$100K
– $199K
1%13%11%6%
$200K
& more
<1%5%6%2%
Notes:
* Age of heads of households

 

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Median Earnings by Worker Characteristics
Race/EthnicityMaleFemale
Non-Hispanic White$41,600 $34,100
African-American$39,400
HispanicBelow $10,000$50,400
Asian
Level of Education MaleFemale
Below Highschool$29,100 $45,600
Highschool & GED$42,300 $32,900
Some College to
Associate’s
$50,800 $37,000
College/Bachelor’s
Degree
$60,500 $39,700
Graduate Degree$61,400 $60,100
OccupationMaleFemale
White-Collar1$57,400 $53,700
STEM2$76,700 $54,400
Gray-Collar3$55,800 $52,800
Pink-Collar4$51,300 $10,800
Sales5$39,200 $33,400
Blue-Collar6$39,100 $33,800
Notes:
1. Management, business, science, and arts occupations
2. Computer, engineering, and science occupations
3. Protective service occupations including firefighters and law enforcement
4. Personal care and service occupations
5. Sales and sales related
6.Production, transportation, and material moving occupations

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Climate Risks

Disaster CategoryNatural Hazard
Risk Rating
Annual Loss
Per Capita
Avalanche
Coastal Flooding
Cold Waves+$
Drought+
Earthquake+$
Hail+++$
Heat Waves++$
Hurricane+
Ice Storm++$
Landslide+
Lightning++$
Riverine Flooding++$
Strong Wind++$
Tornado+$
Tsunami
Volcanic Activity
Wildfires+$
Winter Weather++$
Notes:
Locations with insufficient data or not rated are left blank.
+: Very low to Relatively low risk ratings
++: Relatively moderate
+++: Relatively high
++++: Very high
$: Expected per capita annual loss from the natural disaster is below $100
$$: $100-499
$$$: $500-999
$$$$: $1,000 and more

 

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