DeForest receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
DeForest
Madison
Opportunity
80 · Top 7%
vs78 · Top 10%
Growth
88 · Top 1%
vs70 · Top 16%
Climate
57 · Bottom 9%
vs57 · Bottom 9%
Physical resilience
92 · Top 9%
vs97 · Top 2%
Housing affordability
96 · Top 18%
vs71 · Bottom 36%
Access
97 · Top 29%
vs97 · Top 29%
Economic stability
77 · Top 12%
vs61 · Top 49%
Measured values
| Metric | DeForest | Madison | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 11,501 | 278,001 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $106,419 | $78,050 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $53,093 | $49,425 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,221/sq mi | 3,325/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $359,600 | $372,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,442 | $1,413 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 77.9% | 46.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.0% | 3.0% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.3% | -0.3% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.7% | 59.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 5.7% | 16.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 613 | 3,111 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 53.3 | 11.2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 101.6% | 14.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 82°F | 82°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 12°F | 12°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 37.1" | 37.1" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 6 mi | 6 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 27.1 min | 21.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.7 | 31.8 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
DeForest
Elevated or high exposure: hail.
Madison
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Full profiles: DeForest, WI · Madison, WI · How this is calculated: methodology