It may seem like new homes are popping up all over the Madison area, but the numbers paint a slightly different picture. According to our latest housing start data through the month of September, the current home building pace in Dane County is down by more than 50% from the peak home-building years in the early 2000's. As the chart below shows, a total of 937 Dane County housing starts were initiated through the first 9 months of 2025, compared to 1,950 through the first 9 months of 2004.

At the same time, Dane County's population continues to grow at a rapid pace. According to the Capital Area Regional Planning Commission, Dane County's population is projected to grow to 887,000 residents by the year 2050 (more than 325,000 residents more than the 2020 census). Our rapid population growth -- combined with a relatively low rate of new home construction -- has us fully expecting Dane County property values to continue to appreciate over the next several decades. 

What questions do you have about the Madison area real estate market? Contact us for a helpful consultation. We're here to help you navigate the market with open and honest communication, and never with any sales pressure or spin. 

We would like to thank Dan Lallensack from MTD Marketing Services of Wisconsin for sharing his housing start data with us. For more information, please email Dan at [email protected].