New federal census estimates found that almost 14,000 people have moved to Dane County since early in the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Wisconsin State Journal. The latest estimates put the population increase at 2.5%.
Dane County’s population rose from roughly 561,500 residents to 575,350 between April 2020 and July 2023, based on recent U.S. Census Bureau estimates. Meanwhile, Woods & Poole, an industry standard for demographic projects, projected the county population to reach only 573,300 by the end of 2023, and the state Department of Administration anticipated a Dane County population of 590,000 by the start of 2023. While there is variation among these estimates that indicate a need to reach closer numbers, all point to Dane County’s recent growth at a rapid and steady pace.
In the meantime, the county’s housing market has struggled to keep up. The regional planning commission, using pre-pandemic state DOA figures that have already been outpaced, determined that the county would need over 100,000 new housing units by 2050. Based on the latest housing report in Madison, 2022 new housing permits signal roughly 2,350 units are expected to be added to the city’s housing supply over 2023–24.
