Walgreens, 2010
DeForest’s story
154 years in pictures
Census counts: 431 in 1910, 10,811 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2010 and 6 maps from 1890 on.
- 1872DeForest is settled
Population
13,094
2025 Census estimate · +21.1% since 2020
Typical home
$449K
+3.1% in a year
Household income
$106K
median
Median age
40.7
years
Jobs based here
6,210
Balanced
TownGrade
A
#68 of 357 in WI
Is DeForest a good place to live?
DeForest grades A overall, ranked 68th of 357 in Wisconsin, with clear strengths and some subjects that lag. The median household earns $106K and residents are healthier than 87% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates. It also does better than most on schools: its schools rank ahead of 73% of Wisconsin towns. Its lowest everyday mark is in cost of living: homes are expensive, about $449K for a typical one and 5.1 times the Madison metro’s $89K median household income. Only 61 of Wisconsin’s 879 towns score lower on history. 20% of workers work from home in DeForest, against 12% in Wisconsin’s towns and 11% across U.S. towns. The biggest park or preserve is Western Green Park, at 69 acres.
What makes DeForest stand out
Where DeForest beats most towns.
A growing town
DeForest has grown 47% since 2010
8,936 counted in 2010 and 10,811 in 2020; an estimated 13,094 in 2025.
Growth hasn’t slowed: 21.1% since 2020, after 21% in the decade before.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How DeForest grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Wisconsin), ordered by how far DeForest is from typical.
Jobs & incomeAOpen →HealthUniversity of WI Hospitals & Clinics Authority 11.4 miles awayAOpen →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 39% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listA−Open →SchoolsB+Open →Cost of livingCOpen →SafetyB+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 7.9 of 20; 4.7% of households have no car; 1.7% of workers walk, bike or ride transitBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors6 miles of trails; 3% conserved landA−Open →History1 notable person born hereC−Open →Civic life5.5 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsBOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market60 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 40.7; 42% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 29 attractions →Camp Randall Stadium and 23 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around DeForest. Close and well known come first.
12 mi Stadium & arenaCamp Randall Stadium
11 mi Stadium & arenaKohl Center
24 mi Park & preserveIce Age Trail
36 mi Canyon & gorgeDells of the Wisconsin River
27 mi State parkAztalan State Park
23 mi State parkDevil's Lake State 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 · Kohl Center: Pbrown111 at English Wikipedia, Public domain · Ice Age Trail: MDuchek, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Dells of the Wisconsin River: atramos, CC BY 2.0 · Aztalan State Park: Joshua Mayer - Flickr user wackybadger, CC BY-SA 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 DeForest: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in DeForest, and how to reach them.
PowerWisconsin Power & Light18.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterDeforest Waterworks1 health-based violation in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet9 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpBy addressTown’s hauler · day by addressTown 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 Deforest ClerkThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, May 2026
ZIP code5353253532 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 DeForest.
DeForest trades workers with Madison and other neighbors, costs less than Windsor or any other town next door and has cooler summers than most of the country, though not than most of Wisconsin.
#101for trails in WI
| DeForest | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.6 miles per square mile | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 3.3% | 3.8% | 4.3% |
3.3%
conserved · 200 of 6,094 acres
5.8 mi
of trails · 0.6 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Deforest Athletic Complex | 0.6 mi | 25 |
| 2. Fireman's Park | 0.4 mi | 14 |
| 3. Liberty Land Park | 0.3 mi | 12 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SchoolsB+
For schools, DeForest earns a B+
Its public schools are run by the De Forest Area School District. Two of its 5 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is De Forest High, with 1,137 students.
73%of WI districts it outscoresB+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| De Forest MiddleLargest public middle schoolGrades 7–8 | Grades 7–8 | 602 | B |
| De Forest HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 1,137 | B− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within WI on state tests and graduation
HealthA
For health, DeForest earns an A
21% of adults binge drink in DeForest. DeForest beats the Wisconsin average on 19 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 2. 26% of adults have high blood pressure in DeForest.
87%healthier than U.S. townsAHealth Grade
| DeForest | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 20% | 16% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 26% | 33% | 35% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 32% | 36% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 74% | 78% | 79% |
32 measures vs. Wisconsin
19 better11 too close to call2 worse
| What stands out | DeForest | WI |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 7% | 9.9% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 8.6% | 12.1% |
| Fewer adults getting a yearly checkup | 74.1% | 77.6% |
University of WI Hospitals & Clinics Authority
11.4 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
89th
percentile among WI towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
HousingCost of living grade C
For cost of living, DeForest earns a C
Its typical home is the least expensive on its borders; Windsor is next at $524K. The median property tax bill is $5,747, against $3,792 across Wisconsin, another input to its cost-of-living grade.
The median rent in DeForest is $1,442 a month. The typical DeForest home is worth about $449,000, up 3.1% in a year, 33% above the Wisconsin typical home.
$449KZillow home value
| DeForest | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,442 a month | $1,076 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 78% | 74% | 73% |
Typical home value
DeForest$449K
Wisconsin$337K
Market temperature
60
days on market
100.2%
sale-to-list price
+3.1%
value change, 1 year
22
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
SafetyB+
DeForest is safer than 68% of U.S. towns, by crime per resident
Reported crimes fell from 108 to 97 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings. Violent crime is rare: 5 reported in 2025, 0.4 per 1,000 residents.
DeForest’s violent crime rate is 0.4 per 1,000 residents.
68%of U.S. towns report more crimeB+Safety Grade
| DeForest | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0.4 per 1,000 residents | 1.1 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 7.3 per 1,000 residents | 6.3 | 9.9 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
DeForest0.4
Wisconsin2.4
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
DeForest7.3
Wisconsin10.3
U.S.15.5
68th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
57th
percentile among WI towns
5
violent crimes reported in 2025
92
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Climate
Snowy winters and pleasant summers in DeForest
July afternoons average 82.5°: cooler than most of the country, but hotter than 90% of Wisconsin places with climate records; January nights average 10.3°.
DeForest has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. About 43 inches of snow falls in a winter.
43″snow a winter
| DeForest | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| January low | 10°F | 11°F | 22°F |
| July high | 83°F | 82°F | 85°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter14–30°
Spring35–57°
Summer58–81°
Fall39–60°
Oct 6
typical first frost
May 4
typical last frost
+1.5°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A
About two in five of DeForest’s working residents commute to Madison
DeForest has about as many jobs (6,210) as working residents, but only 592 people both live and work here. Jobs based here grew from 4,573 in 2013 to 6,210.
Most working residents leave DeForest for work: only 10% work in town. Since 2013, DeForest has added 1,637 jobs, to 6,210 in 2023. The top destinations are Madison (41%), Sun Prairie (6%) and Middleton (3%).
10%work in town
| DeForest | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $106,000 | $87,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 26 minutes | 22 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 5.7% | 6.4% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 10% | 8.2% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In DeForest10%
Madison41%
Sun Prairie6%
Middleton3%
Waunakee3%
12 mi
median commute distance
6,210
jobs based in DeForest
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
B
Walkability grade: more walkable than 60% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Who lives here
Fewer young adults than Wisconsin overall
Adults 18 to 34 are 16% of residents (22% statewide); adults 35 to 64 are 43% of residents (38% statewide). 26% of DeForest residents are under 18. DeForest has grown 21% since 2020, to 13,094 residents in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate.
40.7median age · WI 40.2
| DeForest | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 26% | 21% | 22% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 42% | 32% | 29% |
| Aged 65 or older | 16% | 20% | 18% |
DeForestWisconsinUnited States
Ages · share of residents
16%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma2%
High school21%
Some college20%
Associate’s16%
Bachelor’s27%
Graduate15%
Women and men · all residents
52% women, 48% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±2.4 points. Across Wisconsin, 49.9% of residents are women.
| DeForest | WI | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 13.3% | 11.2% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 12.3% | 10.2% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 5.3% | 9.3% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 10.4% | 12.6% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 13.1% | 12.7% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 15.8% | 11.8% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 14.3% | 13.8% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 10.4% | 11.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 5.1% | 7.3% | 7% |
| No diploma | 2.3% | 6.4% | 10.4% |
| High school | 21% | 29.4% | 26% |
| Some college | 19.6% | 19.5% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 15.5% | 11.3% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 27.1% | 22% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 14.5% | 11.4% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A−
Low risk in DeForest, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 61% of U.S. communities. Since 1993, 5 flood insurance claims have been paid out in DeForest.
39risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
5
paid flood claims since 1993
7
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about DeForest
20pages on DeForest
The big questions
SchoolsB+Beat 73% of WI districts · 5 schoolsSafetyB+0.4 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthABetter than WI on 19 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingC$449K typical home · up 3.1% in a yearWork & commuteA$106K median household income · 6,210 jobs hereNatural hazardsA−FEMA risk higher than 39% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
4 within 15 miles of the center of DeForest
Herzing University-MadisonUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Madison6.5 mi$13,450 tuitionMadison Area Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · Madison7.5 mi$4,977 in-state tuitionUniversity of Wisconsin-MadisonUniversity or college · Public · Madison11.1 mi$11,603 in-state tuition
About 5 of every 100 DeForest residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Wisconsin.
About DeForest
Village in Wisconsin, United States
DeForest ( də-FOR-ist) is a village in Dane County, Wisconsin, United States, along the Yahara River. The population was 10,811 at the 2020 census. A suburb north of Madison, it is part of the Madison metropolitan area.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 7.6 sq mi
- Elevation
- 948 ft
- ZIP code
- 53532
- Area code
- 608
DeForest’s neighbors
3 towns share a border with DeForest.
BurkeViennaWindsorDeForest
How the neighbors grade
| Town | WI rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeForest | #68 | A | C | B+ | B+ | A |
| Burke | #49 | A | C+ | — | B+ | A |
| Vienna | — | — | C+ | — | A− | A |
| Windsor | #119 | A− | C | — | B+ | A− |
Vienna has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Burke, Vienna and Windsor report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare DeForest with a neighbor →
Questions about DeForest
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is DeForest, WI a good place to live?
By most measures, yes. DeForest grades A overall, better than 88% of U.S. towns and #68 of 357 in Wisconsin. It grades A for health, B+ for safety and B+ for schools.
Is DeForest, WI expensive?
Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C.