Madison, Wisconsin: population and official figures
286,233
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Madison: The median household income in Madison was $78,050 a year in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey (in 2024 dollars), 382nd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US median was $80,734 and the Wisconsin median $77,485.
- Health in Madison: 4.2% of residents of Madison (11,691 people) had no health insurance in 2020-2024, 126th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 8.4%; Wisconsin: 5.2%).
- Education in Madison: 59.9% of adults aged 25 and over in Madison held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2020-2024, 85th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 35.7%; Wisconsin: 33.4%).
- Poverty and living standards in Madison: 16.4% of residents of Madison (43,635 people) had incomes below the federal poverty line in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey, 230th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 12.5%; Wisconsin: 10.6%).
- Government budget and revenue in Madison: Madison's city government took in $869.58 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, or $3,186 for each of its 272,903 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 232nd highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.
What is the population of Madison, Wisconsin?
Madison, Wisconsin, had an estimated 286,233 residents on 1 July 2025, the 77th largest of the 824 US cities and towns with 50,000 or more people, and the 2nd largest of 608 incorporated places in Wisconsin (Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimates).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyIs the population of Madison growing?
Its population is up 11,593 (4.2%) on the April 2020 estimates base of 274,640, 264th fastest-growing of 824 US cities of 50,000 or more.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow fast is Madison, Wisconsin growing?
In the year to 1 July 2025 its population rose by 1,955 (0.69%), from 284,278 in July 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhen does the fiscal year of Madison end?
The Census Bureau lists Madison's government in its 2024 finance survey as "Madison City", with a fiscal year that ends on 31 December.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyMore figures
- The 2025 estimate is the highest of the annual estimates for 2020 to 2025; the lowest was 271,089 in July 2021. Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy
Who runs Madison?
In the United States, cities and towns are run by municipalities: Elected council; mayor elected directly or chosen by the council; in council-manager systems the council hires a professional city manager. Police, fire, local roads, zoning, water, parks. Townships exist in fewer than half the states.
How local power works in the United States
Madison is in Wisconsin, which has 5,972,787 residents.
Cities of a similar size in the United States
- Santa Ana 315,586
- Cincinnati 314,367
- Greensboro 308,667
- Pittsburgh 307,632
- St. Paul 306,684
- Durham 305,561
- Jersey City 302,013
- Lincoln 301,522
- North Las Vegas 296,653
- Plano 293,028
- Gilbert 287,285
- Anchorage 287,155
- Reno 283,621
- Chandler 278,748
- St. Louis 278,144
- Chula Vista 275,533
Up a level: all cities in the United States · the United States · government and power
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit files (item amounts for every sampled government, directory with population and fiscal year end, state estimates by type of government), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0967c4d30466…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B08013: Aggregate Travel Time to Work (in Minutes) of Workers by Sex (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 6939fdfa046fd5bb829ec8da9549e66298cc740f6a3f5dd60e1920a08e3083fb), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5f94e7878b6a…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B23025: Employment Status for the Population 16 Years and Over (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 264a5bd9367c5f58d9773fa4966fa94fe1e02f9c7106bc2ab39168d6de7c3e4a), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 2630e6946370…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B19083: Gini Index of Income Inequality (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 338f7a1191eaaf3913913e78c36aaa9d82f2b5c8faaf889be2e597b28869205e), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b8cf854b1f94…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table C24030: Sex by Industry for the Civilian Employed Population 16 Years and Over (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 66a2799a71a5fc36f0e3bc22767fe5bdd8f96eb29e85b91311e990d35cc14114), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5d717c57e7e4…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B19013: Median Household Income in the Past 12 Months (in 2024 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 b25a176b0e6c339b6f3a2a0d3d8446bf06f5f080b4395993ec9a8313efb1c229), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1d8a264807c6…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B08301: Means of Transportation to Work (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 552b24c135b6e7c566910914a861cda6fc798ba0cd47801b1eb64295a128c2ee), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 eaf823006d53…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B19301: Per Capita Income in the Past 12 Months (in 2024 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 9fc107e98fee7fa49bb8314560205569184fad65fb64b80adb5c5bdd83ccc409), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 24c1e725b26a…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: City and town population totals, 2020-2025 (Vintage 2025, SUB-EST2025), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 e3508f520146…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25064: Median Gross Rent (Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 b36e6dc1fcef36b8b307d31b37517b64c80d8b9c70d48c9b1894242860f42eb0), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b842a7ff825c…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25077: Median Value (Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 89eb2153764a2330b23959d8bbc29b3a8f3016f087b990f2a8ea0d5096d9a816), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 22b59a3b1acb…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table C18108: Age by Number of Disabilities (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 8116247db31952c99ba053e6b0c767675a9674703b6b32e7705f1e4952f3b426), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b8f09efa878c…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B15003: Educational Attainment for the Population 25 Years and Over (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 d0c8609e958022459215c8a31d7452ef7528ee8dd70fbb6f9a99de0f491f42d7), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 609deae49c91…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B14001: School Enrollment by Level of School for the Population 3 Years and Over (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 e175af4a33616da45fb590da3d67f37eee65a3cb51e6f5864c64ff31fb716b81), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b85f52a6d640…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B27010: Types of Health Insurance Coverage by Age (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 2ceba99dada3ec1042310e1dc1f00bcc819de765c3143028aa000df025012a69), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 3db662ef4cb3…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B28002: Presence and Types of Internet Subscriptions in Household (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 12446ff0691b8818f5908cdc398817361772c5b3078c506d0409adc9c841840b), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4b375b368bf9…)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: PLACES: Place Data (GIS Friendly Format), 2025 release: model-based age-adjusted prevalence among adults, for every place (data.cdc.gov API, columns used), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b2174bcc660f…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B17020: Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months by Age (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 e79a292f34605560506b7f4b5c8ea242c9d6e203c8e95ba675565ddb7758571e), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 41bab025d213…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table C17002: Ratio of Income to Poverty Level in the Past 12 Months (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 dc3dc675113683ec3ff2a0e29a840f43e03268151d7f14b922658d7306da5187), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 31aa364bfddf…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25070: Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income in the Past 12 Months (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 862ccc17d913305d11e6f802ce4518d76b30585ea0b05b251cd8cf21f8661386), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4f8d499d9e95…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25003: Tenure (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 68e963e1ed60fcf6b0658579cefc6498b7a9eb780b9f3e87fd1b9775c4d4ac6c), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 2983c28f47fa…)
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