Poverty and living standards in Madison, Wisconsin: official figures
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%).
How many children live in poverty in Madison?
13.9% of children under 18 in Madison lived below the poverty line in 2020-2024 (6,184 children), 363rd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 16.1%; Wisconsin: 12.8%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the poverty rate for older people in Madison?
By age, the poverty rate in Madison was 10.9% for children under 6 and 8.2% for residents aged 60 and over in 2020-2024 (US: 17.2% and 11.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Madison live in deep poverty?
24,053 people in Madison, 9.0% of residents, had incomes below half the poverty line in 2020-2024, 160th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many renters in Madison are cost-burdened?
50.2% of renting households in Madison spent 30% or more of their income on rent and utilities in 2020-2024 (33,373 households), 292nd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 51.1%; Wisconsin: 43.7%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in Madison spend half their income on rent?
26.1% of renting households in Madison spent half or more of their income on rent and utilities, 399th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 25.9%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Madison are food insecure?
An estimated 12.2% of adults in Madison experienced food insecurity in the past year, joint 133rd lowest of 592 US cities of 50,000 or more with an estimate, and 10.0% housing insecurity (CDC PLACES model-based estimate for 2023, age-adjusted).
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · saved copyHow Madison compares with other cities in the United States
Residents below the poverty line (2020-2024)
Madison ranks 230 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents below the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 227 | Winter Haven | 16.4% |
| 228 | Mishawaka | 16.4% |
| 229 | East Orange | 16.4% |
| 230 | Madison | 16.4% |
| 231 | Burlington | 16.4% |
| 232 | Bakersfield | 16.3% |
| 233 | Gastonia | 16.3% |
Children under 18 below the poverty line (2020-2024)
Madison ranks 461 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Children under 18 below the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 458 | Commerce City | 13.9% |
| 459 | Concord | 13.9% |
| 460 | Elgin | 13.9% |
| 461 | Madison | 13.9% |
| 462 | Vallejo | 13.9% |
| 463 | Cape Coral | 13.8% |
| 464 | Medford | 13.8% |
Residents with incomes below half the poverty line (2020-2024)
Madison ranks 160 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents with incomes below half the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 157 | San Bernardino | 9.1% |
| 158 | Pharr | 9.0% |
| 159 | McAllen | 9.0% |
| 160 | Madison | 9.0% |
| 161 | Lafayette | 9.0% |
| 162 | Bossier City | 9.0% |
| 163 | Mobile | 9.0% |
Renting households spending 30% or more of income on rent (2020-2024)
Madison ranks 532 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Renting households spending 30% or more of income on rent |
|---|---|---|
| 529 | South Bend | 50.3% |
| 530 | San Jose | 50.3% |
| 531 | Temple | 50.3% |
| 532 | Madison | 50.2% |
| 533 | Ames | 50.2% |
| 534 | Lansing | 50.2% |
| 535 | Richardson | 50.2% |
Adults experiencing food insecurity (age-adjusted model estimate) (2023)
Madison ranks 459 of 592, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults experiencing food insecurity (age-adjusted model estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| 456 | Orem | 12.4% |
| 457 | Ann Arbor | 12.3% |
| 458 | Nashua | 12.3% |
| 459 | Madison | 12.2% |
| 460 | Blue Springs | 12.2% |
| 461 | Lake Forest | 12.1% |
| 462 | Schaumburg | 12.1% |
More on Madison: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · all cities in the United States
Sources
- 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…)
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