Integrity Homes · Market Reports
Dane County, Wisconsin Housing Market
Dane County covers Madison and the surrounding communities, and the six markets we track most closely each behave differently enough that the county average alone will not tell you what to do.
September 2026 Report · Based on August 2026 Closings
Created: December 1, 2025 | Last updated: September 1, 2026
The Dane County Market at a Glance
September 2026 snapshot: Dane County's median sale price is $475,000, homes sell in about 11 days, and inventory is 2.37 months (Strong Seller's Market).
| Community | Median | YoY | Median DOM | Supply | Market | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | $440,000 | +8.6% | 8 days | 1.96 mo | Extreme Seller's Market | View |
| Verona | $575,000 | +4.6% | 8 days | 2.13 mo | Strong Seller's Market | View |
| Sun Prairie | $425,000 | -6.6% | 8 days | 2.14 mo | Strong Seller's Market | View |
| DeForest | $470,000 | -3.7% | 17 days | 2.16 mo | Strong Seller's Market | View |
| Waunakee | $690,000 | +12.2% | 29 days | 2.32 mo | Strong Seller's Market | View |
| Middleton | $681,000 | -4.4% | 14 days | 2.81 mo | Strong Seller's Market | View |
Data source: SCWMLS, August 2026 closings, snapshot September 1, 2026. Each community is reported by its city area, the standard SCWMLS unit. Data deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
What's the Big Picture Across Dane County?
Tight supply everywhere, and six communities that are not behaving the same way. The county median is $475,000, up 4.9% year over year, on 2.37 months of supply. Not one community we track reached three months.
Madison is the tightest at 1.96 months and Middleton the loosest at 2.81. That is a real spread, but it is narrow in absolute terms: every one of the six sits in seller's territory, and the difference between the tightest and the loosest is under a month and a half of inventory.
Where they genuinely diverge is on price behavior. Buyers paid over asking in Madison, Sun Prairie and Middleton, while buyers in Waunakee, Verona and DeForest landed under list. Tight supply and buyer leverage are not moving together this month, which is exactly why the county average is the wrong number to make a decision on.
John's Take: Across Dane County
John Reuter · Integrity Homes
There is no single Dane County market. The county median rose 4.9% to $475,000 and sales fell 18.7% to 514 on 2.37 months of supply, but that average hides six genuinely different situations underneath it.
Madison is the tightest at 1.96 months and the only community in Extreme Seller's territory. Middleton is the loosest at 2.81 months, and yet buyers there paid over asking while Waunakee buyers took 1.65% off. Tight supply and buyer leverage are not moving together right now.
Waunakee is the outlier worth watching. Median days on market went from 9 to 29 in a year. DeForest went the other way and was the only community where sales rose. If you are making a decision, the county number is the wrong unit to use.
The consistent thread is that inventory is thin everywhere. Not one community reached three months of supply. That is what keeps sellers in control even in the markets that slowed down this month.
Explore Each Dane County Community
Each community has its own full September 2026 report with price range and zip code detail, plus a living guide covering schools, neighborhoods, and lifestyle.
$440,000 median · 8-day DOM · 1.96 mo · Extreme Seller's
The largest and most varied market in the county, spanning starter condos on the east side to lakefront estates on the west.
$575,000 median · 8-day DOM · 2.13 mo · Strong Seller's
Epic Systems keeps a floor under demand here that most suburbs do not have.
$425,000 median · 8-day DOM · 2.14 mo · Strong Seller's
More square footage per dollar than the Madison west side, with newer neighborhoods and fast-moving mid-range inventory.
$470,000 median · 17-day DOM · 2.16 mo · Strong Seller's
Genuine small town character north of Madison, and the most attainable values of the six.
$690,000 median · 29-day DOM · 2.32 mo · Strong Seller's
Newer construction, larger lots, and a school district that pulls buyers from across the region.
$681,000 median · 14-day DOM · 2.81 mo · Strong Seller's
The premium suburb: walkable downtown, top rated schools, and a price premium across every range.
Dane County Housing Market: Frequently Asked Questions
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What is the median home price in Dane County, WI?
The median sale price in Dane County was $475,000 in August 2026, up 4.9% from the prior year. The year to date median is $469,900, up 4.4%.
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How long does it take to sell a house in Dane County?
The median days on market was 11 days in August 2026, compared with 9 days a year earlier. The average was 29 days.
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Is Dane County a buyer's or seller's market?
Dane County is a Strong Seller's Market with 2.37 months of supply. The tightest price range is $300,000 to $399,999 at 1.87 months.
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How many homes are for sale in Dane County right now?
As of 2026-09-01 there are 1307 active listings and 296 homes pending in Dane County, against an average of 551 sales per month.
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How many homes sold in Dane County in August 2026?
514 homes sold in Dane County in August 2026, down 18.7% from 632 a year earlier. Total volume was $290,450,077.
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Can buyers negotiate in Dane County?
Somewhat. Buyers paid an average of 0.1% under asking in August 2026, which is more room than most of Dane County offered this month.
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Are home prices going up or down in Dane County?
The August 2026 median is up 4.9% year over year. Average price per square foot is $268, up 3.9% from $258, which is the cleaner read on underlying value.
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What price range is most competitive in Dane County?
The $300,000 to $399,999 range at 1.87 months of supply. Buyers there should be prepared to move quickly and offer cleanly.
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Where do buyers have the most room in Dane County?
The $1,000,000 and above range carries 4.19 months of supply, the loosest bracket in the city and the best place to ask for terms.
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Should I wait for interest rates to drop before buying in Dane County?
Supply is 2.37 months and the year to date median is $469,900, up 4.4%. Waiting means competing for the same thin inventory later. Buy when the payment works and refinance if rates improve.
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Is now a good time to sell in Dane County?
With 2.37 months of supply, a 11 day median time to contract, and a $475,000 median sale price, sellers hold the stronger position. Price to recent comparables rather than aspirationally.
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What were new listings and pendings in Dane County?
New listings came in at 643, down 5.3%, and new pendings at 521, down 0.6%. Those two together are the best early read on the months ahead.
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How does Dane County compare with the rest of Dane County?
The Dane County median was $475,000 in August 2026 at 2.37 months of supply. Dane County sits at $475,000 and 2.37 months, so it is below the county median and looser on inventory.
Dane County School Districts
School quality is one of the strongest drivers of where buyers shop across the county. These are the district guides for the six communities we cover.
See the Full Dane County Market Data
Inventory Supply Gauge: Dane County
Months of Supply by Price Range: Dane County
Methodology
All market data sourced from the South Central Wisconsin MLS (SCWMLS) for Dane County. Monthly figures reflect closed transactions recorded in August 2026. Months of supply is active listings divided by the twelve month average sales per month. Data deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Dane County · $475,000 median · 11 days on market · 6 communities