DaneWisconsin1WIS113, 2009
Dane’s story
182 years in pictures
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2009.
- 1844Dane is settled
Photo: Royalbroil · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
1,119
2025 Census estimate · +0.1% since 2020
Typical home
$504K
+2.7% in a year
Household income
$108K
median
Median age
34.5
years
Jobs based here
197
A commuter town
Is Dane a good place to live?
The best of Dane’s subject grades are an A for incomes and an A− for health; the weakest is a D for walkability. 7.5% of residents are 65 or older in Dane, below both Wisconsin’s towns (20%) and U.S. towns (18%). Only 68 of Wisconsin’s 874 towns score higher on health. On civic life, just 56 of Wisconsin’s 869 towns do worse. Dane has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Dane stand out
Where Dane beats most towns.
Natural hazardsA
Very low risk of storm and flood damage
FEMA National Risk Index.
32 measures vs. Wisconsin
14 better15 too close to call3 worse
| Widest gap | Dane | WI |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults with heart disease | 4.2% | 6.6% |
HealthA−
Healthier than 85% of U.S. towns
Beats WI on 14 of 32 CDC measures, trails it on 3
Less healthyHealthier
CDC PLACES 2025 estimates.
0historic places
History
Settled in 1844
A long history
A history going back 182 years.
Small town
1,119 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
DaneDane
How Dane grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Wisconsin), ordered by how far Dane is from typical.
Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 10% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listAOpen →Jobs & income197 jobs based hereAOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 2.7 of 20; 0.7% of households have no car; 1.5% of workers walk, bike or ride transitDOpen →HealthUniversity of WI Hospitals & Clinics Authority 12.2 miles awayA−Open →Cost of livingC+Open →SchoolsB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors0 miles of trailsBOpen →HistoryBOpen →Civic life1.9 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsDOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 28 attractions →Camp Randall Stadium and 23 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Dane. Close and well known come first.
13 mi Stadium & arenaCamp Randall Stadium
17 mi Park & preserveIce Age Trail
13 mi Stadium & arenaKohl Center
31 mi Canyon & gorgeDells of the Wisconsin River
16 mi State parkDevil's Lake State Park29 mi Theme parkNoah's Ark Water ParkSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Camp Randall Stadium: Carol M. Highsmith, Public domain · Ice Age Trail: MDuchek, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Kohl Center: Pbrown111 at English Wikipedia, Public domain · Dells of the Wisconsin River: atramos, CC BY 2.0 · Devil's Lake State Park: CrispAir at en.wikipedia, CC BY 3.0
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Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Dane: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Dane, and how to reach them.
PowerWisconsin Power & Light18.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterDane WaterworksNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers98% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpThursdayTrash dayTown site
Register to voteOnlineIn Wisconsin you can register online until 20 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 20 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereVillage of Dane ClerkThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, May 2026
ZIP code5352953529 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Dane.
HousingCost of living grade C+
Homes in Dane are worth about $504K, by Zillow’s estimate
The typical Dane home is worth about $504,000, up 2.7% in a year, 49% above the Wisconsin typical home. At $1,317 a month, Dane’s median rent is where Wisconsin’s towns sit at $1,078 a month and U.S. towns at $1,185 a month.
$504KZillow home value
| Dane | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 79% | 74% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,317 a month | $1,078 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Dane$504K
Wisconsin$337K
+2.7%
value change, 1 year
3
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
47%of WI districts it outscoresB−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blessed Trinity Catholic School PrivateLargest elementary schoolGrades PK–8 | Grades PK–8 | 63 | – |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within WI on state tests and graduation
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A
Dane faces a very low natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 90% of U.S. communities.
10risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
5
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
HealthA−
Dane stands out in Wisconsin and nationally: a smaller share of its adults have high blood pressure
24% of Dane adults have high blood pressure. Among 358 Wisconsin towns, just 3 have a lower share of adults who have diabetes than Dane. 26% of Dane adults have been diagnosed with depression.
85%healthier than U.S. townsA−Health Grade
| Dane | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 23% | 20% | 16% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 24% | 33% | 35% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 71% | 78% | 79% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 7.3% | 11% | 12% |
32 measures vs. Wisconsin
14 better15 too close to call3 worse
| What stands out | Dane | WI |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults with heart disease | 4.2% | 6.6% |
| Fewer adults with diabetes | 7.3% | 11.4% |
| More binge drinkers | 23.4% | 19% |
University of WI Hospitals & Clinics Authority
12.2 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A
A smaller share of working residents work locally in Dane than in most of Wisconsin or the rest of the country
No town among the 363 in Wisconsin we compare has a lower share of working residents who work in town than Dane. Dane’s median household income is $108,000. The top destinations are Madison (34%), Waunakee (8%) and Vienna (5%).
0%work in town
| Dane | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $108,000 | $87,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 0.4% | 8.3% | 8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.9% | 6.4% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 22 minutes | 22 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Dane0%
Madison34%
Waunakee8%
Vienna5%
DeForest4%
13 mi
median commute distance
197
jobs based in Dane
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
D
Walkability grade: more walkable than 14% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Who lives here
Younger than Wisconsin overall
People 65 and older are 8% of residents (19% statewide); adults 18 to 34 are 31% of residents (22% statewide). The median age in Dane is 34.5 years. 27% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 33% across Wisconsin.
34.5median age · WI 40.2
| Dane | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.5 years | 42.1 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 27% | 32% | 29% |
DaneWisconsinUnited States
Ages · share of residents
19%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma5%
High school36%
Some college18%
Associate’s15%
Bachelor’s21%
Graduate6%
Women and men · all residents
44% women, 56% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±9.8 points. Across Wisconsin, 49.9% of residents are women. Among residents 18 to 24, 79% are men (WI 51%).
| Dane | WI | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 12.4% | 11.2% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 8.7% | 10.2% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 12.4% | 9.3% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 18.7% | 12.6% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 15.7% | 12.7% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 12.4% | 11.8% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 12.4% | 13.8% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 4.8% | 11.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 2.7% | 7.3% | 7% |
| No diploma | 5.1% | 6.4% | 10.4% |
| High school | 35.6% | 29.4% | 26% |
| Some college | 17.7% | 19.5% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 14.8% | 11.3% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 20.6% | 22% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 6.2% | 11.4% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 1,100, single groups can be off by several points
Climate
Dane has snowy winters and pleasant summers
Dane has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. July afternoons reach 82°, January nights drop to 10° and about 43 inches of snow falls in a winter.
43″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter14–30°
Spring35–56°
Summer59–80°
Fall39–59°
Oct 6
typical first frost
May 4
typical last frost
+1.5°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
0%conserved
0%
conserved · 0 of 760 acres
0.4 mi
of trails · 0.3 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Capitol Valley Park | 0.2 mi | 12 |
| 2. Lake Melvin Park | — | 7 |
| 3. Bert Dean's Park | — | 5 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Dane
18pages on Dane
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
4 within 15 miles of the center of Dane
Madison Area Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · Madison12.2 mi$4,977 in-state tuitionHerzing University-MadisonUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Madison12.6 mi$13,450 tuitionUniversity of Wisconsin-MadisonUniversity or college · Public · Madison12.7 mi$11,603 in-state tuition
About 5 of every 100 Dane residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Wisconsin.
A commuter town
100% of working residents leave Dane for work
Where Dane’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
197jobs based in Dane
0%of working residents work in town
13 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Dane
Village in Wisconsin, United States
Dane is a village in Dane County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,117 at the 2020 census. Located in the Town of Dane, the village is part of the Madison, Wisconsin metropolitan area.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.2 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,125 ft
- ZIP code
- 53529
- Area code
- 608
Questions about Dane
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Dane, WI expensive?
That is 5.7 years of the area's median household income ($88,804 across the Madison, WI metro area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C+.