How long is the commute from Madison, WI?
Workers who live in Madison, WI take an average of 19.4 minutes to get to work (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
56.7% of workers drive alone to work.
5.3% take public transportation.
7.6% of workers walk to work.
20.5% work from home.
12.2% of households have no vehicle.
Figures last updated on .
- Average commute
- 19.4 minutes (±0.4)
- Public transportation
- 5.3%
- Work from home
- 20.5%
- Households without a car
- 12.2%
How people in Madison get to work
| Means of transportation | Madison | Dane County | Wisconsin | United States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drove alone | 56.7% (±1.1 points) | 63.8% | 74.4% | 68.8% |
| Carpooled | 5.8% (±0.6 points) | 5.6% | 7.3% | 8.5% |
| Public transportation | 5.3% (±0.5 points) | 2.9% | 1.1% | 3.2% |
| Walked | 7.6% (±0.6 points) | 4.9% | 2.6% | 2.4% |
| Other means (bicycle, taxi, motorcycle) | 4.1% (±0.4 points) | 2.8% | 1.6% | 2.0% |
| Worked from home | 20.5% (±1.0 points) | 20.0% | 13.1% | 15.1% |
In Madison, the average commute is lower than in Dane County (20.6 minutes).
It is also lower than in Wisconsin (22.2 minutes).
It is lower than the national figure (26.4 minutes).
In Madison, the share commuting by public transportation is higher than in Dane County (2.9%).
It is also higher than in Wisconsin (1.1%).
It is higher than the national figure (3.2%).
In Dane County, Madison ranks 51 of 59 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest average commute.
Statewide, it ranks 1596 of 1,842.
Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.
Cars per household in Madison
| Vehicles available | Madison | Dane County | Wisconsin | United States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No vehicle | 12.2% (±0.8 points) | 8.2% | 6.4% | 8.4% |
| 1 vehicle | 44.6% (±1.2 points) | 37.8% | 33.0% | 33.1% |
| 2 vehicles | 34.4% (±1.2 points) | 39.2% | 39.5% | 36.6% |
| 3 or more vehicles | 8.8% (±0.7 points) | 14.7% | 21.1% | 21.9% |
In Madison, the share of households without a vehicle is higher than in Dane County (8.2%).
It is also higher than in Wisconsin (6.4%).
It is higher than the national figure (8.4%).
Working from home and internet access in Madison
| Madison | Dane County | Wisconsin | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Workers working from home | 20.5% (±1.0 points) | 20.0% (±0.7 points) | 13.1% (±0.1 points) | 15.1% |
| Households with a computer | 97.5% (±0.5 points) | 97.4% (±0.3 points) | 94.7% (±0.1 points) | 95.5% |
| Households with broadband internet | 91.3% (±0.8 points) | 92.9% (±0.5 points) | 90.3% (±0.2 points) | 91.0% |
In Madison, the share of households with a broadband subscription is lower than in Dane County (92.9%).
It is also higher than in Wisconsin (90.3%).
It is not measurably different from the national figure (91.0%).
Average commute in places near Madison
| Place | Distance | Average commute | Compared with this place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | — | 19.4 minutes (±0.4) | — |
| Shorewood Hills | 1.1 mi | 16.4 minutes (±1.7) | Lower |
| Maple Bluff | 3.6 mi | 20.3 minutes (±2.4) | Not measurably different |
| Middleton | 4.1 mi | 19.3 minutes (±1.7) | Not measurably different |
| Monona | 5.4 mi | 19.5 minutes (±1.7) | Not measurably different |
| Town of Westport | 5.5 mi | 21.6 minutes (±2.0) | Higher |
| Waunakee | 6.6 mi | 22.0 minutes (±1.7) | Higher |
| Town of Blooming Grove | 6.9 mi | 21.0 minutes (±2.3) | Not measurably different |
| Fitchburg | 7.1 mi | 18.9 minutes (±1.3) | Not measurably different |
Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Shorewood Hills, WI (16.4 minutes).
Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Town of Westport, WI (21.6 minutes), Waunakee, WI (22.0 minutes).
Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.
Average commute across Dane County, place by place
| Rank | Place | Average commute |
|---|---|---|
| 45 | Town of Blooming Grove | 21.0 minutes (±2.3) |
| 46 | Town of Vienna | 20.8 minutes (±2.6) |
| 47 | Maple Bluff | 20.3 minutes (±2.4) |
| 48 | Town of Springdale | 19.9 minutes (±1.4) |
| 49 | Town of Middleton | 19.8 minutes (±2.4) |
| 50 | Monona | 19.5 minutes (±1.7) |
| 51 | Madison | 19.4 minutes (±0.4) |
| 52 | Middleton | 19.3 minutes (±1.7) |
| 53 | Town of Springfield (Dane County) | 19.1 minutes (±1.2) |
| 54 (tie) | Fitchburg | 18.9 minutes (±1.3) |
| 54 (tie) | McFarland | 18.9 minutes (±2.3) |
| 54 (tie) | Town of Burke | 18.9 minutes (±4.4) |
| 57 | Verona | 17.9 minutes (±1.3) |
Showing 13 of 59 places in Dane County, ranked from highest to lowest.
Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).
Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.
What you can do on Seayora in Madison
One account for renting, owning, managing and fixing homes, with these figures beside you.
Looking for a place to rent?
Browse homes for rent near Madison, save the ones you like and apply online.
Browse rentals · Create a renter account
Own or manage a rental?
List it, sign the lease and collect rent online, with the figures for Madison beside you.
Create a landlord account · See what landlords get
Do repairs, renovations or maintenance?
Get found by owners and renters near Madison, and send estimates and invoices from your phone.
Questions about Madison
How long is the average commute in Madison?
Workers who live in Madison, WI take an average of 19.4 minutes each way (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
Can you live in Madison without a car?
12.2% of households in Madison have no vehicle, and 5.3% of workers commute by public transportation.
How many people work from home in Madison?
20.5% (±1.0 points) of workers who live in Madison worked from home, and 91.3% of households have a broadband subscription.
Sources
- Selected Economic Characteristics (DP03), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Madison city, Wisconsin
- Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Madison city, Wisconsin
- Selected Social Characteristics (DP02), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Madison city, Wisconsin
To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) for Madison city, Wisconsin (place:48000, in state:55).
Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).
The API needs a free key.
DP03_0018E, DP03_0018M, DP03_0025E, DP03_0025M, DP03_0019PE, DP03_0019PM, DP03_0020PE, DP03_0020PM, DP03_0021PE, DP03_0021PM, DP03_0022PE, DP03_0022PM, DP03_0023PE, DP03_0023PM, DP03_0024PE, DP03_0024PM, DP04_0058PE, DP04_0058PM, DP04_0059PE, DP04_0059PM, DP04_0060PE, DP04_0060PM, DP04_0061PE, DP04_0061PM, DP02_0153PE, DP02_0153PM, DP02_0154PE, DP02_0154PM
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.
Figures last updated on .
Related
- Housing in Madison at a glance
- Median rent in Madison
- Rent by bedrooms in Madison
- Rent burden in Madison
- Renters and owners in Madison
- Income and affordability in Madison
- Home values in Madison
- Homeowner costs in Madison
- Property taxes in Madison
- Types of homes in Madison
- Bedrooms in Madison
- Age of homes in Madison
- Vacancy rate in Madison
- Heating fuel in Madison
- Population growth in Madison
- How long people stay in Madison
- Crowding and facilities in Madison
- Wisconsin landlord and tenant rules
- Housing across Dane County
- Wisconsin places ranked by commute time
- Housing data for every place in Wisconsin