Dane County, Wisconsin Housing Market
Your hub for all six Dane County communities
Created: December 1, 2025 | Last Updated: June 1, 2026
Across Dane County, every community we track favored sellers in May. Months of supply ran from just 1.18 in Verona to 2.67 in Middleton, homes sold in a median of 6 to 9 days, and prices were broadly up or holding. The one consistent crack: the high end is softening while the entry and mid ranges stay fierce. Here is how the markets compare and where buyers and sellers have the edge.
6 communities • all seller's markets • 6 to 9 days to contract
The Dane County Market at a Glance
In June 2026, all six Dane County communities we cover are seller's markets, but they are not the same market. Verona, Madison, and Sun Prairie are in Extreme Seller's territory under 1.6 months of supply, while Waunakee and Middleton have a little more room. Sorted tightest to loosest:
| Community | Median (May) | YoY | Median DOM | Months Supply | Market | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verona | $472,200 | ▲ 5.2% | 8 days | 1.18 mo | Extreme Seller's | View → |
| Madison | $447,500 | ▲ 1.7% | 6 days | 1.38 mo | Extreme Seller's | View → |
| Sun Prairie | $449,000 | ▼ 1.3% | 7 days | 1.54 mo | Extreme Seller's | View → |
| DeForest | $550,000 | ▲ 4.8% | 7 days | 2.12 mo | Strong Seller's | View → |
| Waunakee | $590,000 | → flat | 9 days | 2.21 mo | Strong Seller's | View → |
| Middleton | $735,000* | ▲ 26.3% | 6 days | 2.67 mo | Strong Seller's | View → |
* Middleton's May median was lifted by a luxury-heavy mix of closings; its year-to-date median of $605,000 (up 12%) is the steadier read. Each community is reported by its school-district boundary, the standard SCWMLS unit.
What's the Big Picture Across Dane County?
The county-wide story is tight supply, fast sales, and firm prices, with a clear split between a red-hot middle and a softening top.
Inventory is the headline everywhere. Not one of the six communities reached even three months of supply, and three of them sit under one and a half. That keeps well-priced homes moving in about a week and keeps sellers in control of most negotiations. Prices reflect it: Verona is up 5.2% and Madison up 1.7% year over year, Waunakee is flat, and both Sun Prairie and Middleton are up double digits on a year-to-date basis.
The most important nuance for 2026 is the divide by price point. The entry and move-up ranges, roughly $300,000 to $600,000, are the tightest and most competitive bands in nearly every community. The high end is a different story: Verona's $800,000 to $900,000 band has ballooned to 10.67 months of supply, Sun Prairie above $700,000 runs six to eight months, and Middleton's mid-to-upper tiers carry around three. If you are buying at the top of the market, you finally have leverage; if you are selling there, pricing precisely matters more than ever.
One County, Two Very Different Markets
When people ask me how the market is doing, my honest answer in June is that there is no single Dane County market right now, there are two. Under about $600,000, it is as competitive as I have seen, the right home gets multiple offers and moves in days, and buyers win on strategy and terms, not lowball price. Above $800,000, the script flips: inventory has piled up in spots like Verona's $800K to $900K band, and patient, well-prepared buyers have real negotiating room.
For sellers, the takeaway is the same in every community: price to the most recent comparables and present the home well. The market rewards accuracy and punishes wishful pricing faster than it did a year ago. For buyers, know which of the two markets you are shopping in, because the playbook is completely different at $400,000 than it is at $900,000.
Explore Each Dane County Community
Each community has its own full June report with price-range and zip-code detail, plus a living guide covering schools, neighborhoods, and lifestyle.
$472,200 median • 8-day DOM • 1.18 mo • Extreme Seller's
The tightest market in the county at 1.18 months, with the clear exception of a soft $800K to $900K band.
June report → Living guide →$447,500 median • 6-day DOM • 1.38 mo • Extreme Seller's
The largest, most varied market; prices holding and inventory up from a year ago.
June report → Living guide →$449,000 median • 7-day DOM • 1.54 mo • Extreme Seller's
A two-speed market: fierce under $400K, much softer above $700K. YTD median up 8.4%.
June report → Living guide →$550,000 median • 7-day DOM • 2.12 mo • Strong Seller's
A quietly appreciating market north of Madison; the year-to-date median is up 8.9% with the $300K to $400K range nearly sold out.
June report → Living guide →$590,000 median • 9-day DOM • 2.21 mo • Strong Seller's
Defined by scarcity; a quiet May on volume but YTD sales up 25% and prices holding.
June report → Living guide →$735,000 median • 6-day DOM • 2.67 mo • Strong Seller's
The premium suburb; a luxury-heavy May pushed the median to $735K, YTD median up 12%.
June report → Living guide →Dane County Housing Market FAQs
Is Dane County a buyer's or seller's market in June 2026?
Every community we track is a seller's market. Months of supply ranged from 1.18 in Verona to 2.67 in Middleton, all well below the roughly six months that would signal an even split between buyers and sellers.
Which Dane County community is most competitive?
Verona is tightest at 1.18 months of supply, followed by Madison at 1.38 and Sun Prairie at 1.54, all Extreme Seller's Markets. Waunakee and Middleton are Strong Seller's Markets with a bit more breathing room.
Where do buyers have the most leverage in Dane County?
At the high end. Verona's $800,000 to $900,000 band sits at 10.67 months of supply, Sun Prairie above $700,000 runs six to eight months, and Middleton's mid-to-upper tiers carry around three months. The entry and mid ranges remain intensely competitive almost everywhere.
Are home prices rising across Dane County?
Broadly yes or holding steady. Verona is up 5.2% and Madison up 1.7% year over year, Waunakee is flat, Sun Prairie's year-to-date median is up 8.4%, and Middleton's year-to-date median is up 12%.
How fast are homes selling in Dane County?
Very fast. The median time to contract ranged from 6 days in Madison and Middleton to 9 days in Waunakee. Well-priced homes routinely go under contract within their first week.
Why are home sales down in some communities?
Tight inventory means fewer transactions, not falling prices. Several markets are actually up strongly year to date, including Waunakee at plus 25% and Verona at plus 21.6%.
Which Dane County city has the highest home prices?
Middleton, with a May median of $735,000. That figure was lifted by a luxury-heavy month of closings; the steadier year-to-date median is $605,000.
How is the DeForest market?
DeForest is a Strong Seller's Market at 2.12 months of supply. The May median was $550,000, up 4.8% year over year, with the year-to-date median up 8.9%. The $300,000 to $400,000 range is nearly sold out while the high end has more room.
How do I compare Dane County communities before buying?
Start with the comparison table above, then open the individual city reports for the full price-range, zip-code, and trend detail. Comparing two or three side by side is one of the smartest pre-purchase moves you can make.
Dane County School Districts
School quality is one of the strongest drivers of where buyers shop across the county. Explore the district guides for the communities we cover.