Dane County
Madison's biohealth and research engine — the fastest-growing county in Wisconsin.
575,000
Population
340K
Workforce
$85,000
Median household income
2.2%
Unemployment
Location introduction
Why Dane County
Anchored by the University of Wisconsin–Madison and Epic Systems, Dane County combines a top-10 research university, a deep software and biohealth talent pool, and consistently one of the lowest unemployment rates in the Midwest. The region adds thousands of STEM graduates every year and leads the state in venture investment.
Where we are
Location
Industry sectors
What thrives here
Biotech & Life Sciences
Exact Sciences grew from startup to 6,000+ employees here. UW–Madison's $1.5B research engine and University Research Park keep the pipeline full.
25K
Sector workforce
$95,000
Avg annual wage
Incentives: QNBV investor credits; WEDC technology development loans.
Assets: University Research Park, UW–Madison, Morgridge Institute
IT & Software
Epic Systems employs 12,000+ on its Verona campus and seeds a constant stream of health-IT spinouts across the county.
30K
Sector workforce
$98,000
Avg annual wage
Assets: Deep health-IT talent pool, StartingBlock entrepreneurship hub
Higher Ed & Research
UW–Madison is a top-10 US research university producing 10,000+ graduates a year, with nation-leading programs in CS, engineering, and life sciences.
25K
Sector workforce
$68,000
Avg annual wage
Assets: $1.5B annual R&D expenditure, WARF patent portfolio
Actively recruiting
Businesses we want to attract
Benefits
Incentives & programs
Real estate & sites
Madison TIF Districts
Site-specificTax-increment financing available across Madison's employment corridors.
Talent
Workforce & education
340,000
Total workforce
15%
STEM workers
$68,000
Avg annual wage
2.2%
Unemployment
12,000
Graduates / year
Anchor tenants
Major employers
Connectivity
Infrastructure
I-39/90/94 interchange
Highways
Dane County Regional (MSN) — 6 miles
Nearest major airport
Wisconsin & Southern freight
Rail
Citywide gigabit fiber
Broadband
MGE — among the most reliable utilities in the Midwest
Power
Liveability
Quality of life
$420,000
Median home price
$1,450/mo
Median rent
20 min
Avg commute
Madison metro districts among state's best
Schools
UW–Madison + Madison College
Higher education
UW Health academic medical center
Healthcare
Five lakes, 200+ miles of trails, top-rated food scene
Recreation & culture
Four seasons on an isthmus between two lakes
Climate
Get in touch
Contact the EDA
Dane County EDA
Economic Development Agency
No contact details published yet.
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