Dane County Demographics

A map of Dane County's Population by Race

Dane County, Wisconsin has an estimated population of 572,674, a slight increase from the 561,504 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 75.8% White, 7.8% Hispanic, 6.1% Asian, 5.1% Black, 4.6% Multiracial, and 0.6% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Dane County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Dane is about as racially diverse as it was in the 2020 Census. It is more diverse than Wisconsin overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Dane County, that probability was 40.8% in 2020 and 41.1% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Dane County is ranked the 2nd most populous county in Wisconsin, out of 72 counties. Dane County was ranked the 2nd most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Dane County's White Population

433,966 residents of Dane County, or 75.8% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Dane County is slightly lower than in Wisconsin overall, where 78.6% of the population is White. Dane County ranks 68th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 72 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Dane County's White population has grown by an estimated 1.7%. White residents' share of Dane County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 75.8%.

Dane County is less White than neighboring Columbia County (90.3% White), Green County (92% White), Rock County (79.6% White), Sauk County (86.3% White), and Jefferson County (87% White).

Dane County's Black Population

29,416 residents of Dane County, or 5.1% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Dane County is comparable to the share in Wisconsin overall, where 5.9% of the population is Black. Dane County ranks 4th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 72 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Dane County's Black population has declined by an estimated 1.1%. Black residents' share of Dane County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 5.1%.

Dane County is more Black than neighboring Columbia County (1.6% Black), Green County (0.8% Black), Rock County (4.6% Black), Sauk County (0.8% Black), and Jefferson County (0.9% Black).

Dane County's Asian Population

35,051 residents of Dane County, or 6.1% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Dane County is slightly higher than in Wisconsin overall, where 2.9% of the population is Asian. Dane County ranks 1st statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 72 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Dane County's Asian population has declined by an estimated 1.5%. Asian residents' share of Dane County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 6.1%.

Dane County is more Asian than neighboring Columbia County (0.8% Asian), Green County (0.6% Asian), Rock County (1.1% Asian), Sauk County (0.4% Asian), and Jefferson County (0.6% Asian).

Dane County's Hispanic Population

44,744 residents of Dane County, or 7.8% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Dane County is comparable to the share in Wisconsin overall, where 8% of the population is Hispanic. Dane County ranks 9th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 72 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Dane County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 6.7%. Hispanic residents' share of Dane County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 7.8%.

Dane County is more Hispanic than neighboring Columbia County (4.1% Hispanic), Green County (4.2% Hispanic), and Sauk County (6.8% Hispanic). Dane County is less Hispanic than neighboring Rock County (10.1% Hispanic), and Jefferson County (8.5% Hispanic).

Dane County's Native American/Other Population

3,161 residents of Dane County, or 0.6% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Dane County is comparable to the share in Wisconsin overall, where 0.9% of the population is Native American/Other. Dane County ranks 45th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 72 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Dane County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 12.0%. Native American/Other residents' share of Dane County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.6%.

Dane County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Green County (0.3% Native American/Other), Rock County (0.3% Native American/Other), and Jefferson County (0.3% Native American/Other). Dane County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Sauk County (1.3% Native American/Other).

Dane County's Multiracial Population

26,336 residents of Dane County, or 4.6% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Dane County is comparable to the share in Wisconsin overall, where 3.7% of the population is Multiracial. Dane County ranks 9th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 72 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Dane County's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 10.2%. Multiracial residents' share of Dane County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 4.6%.

Dane County is more Multiracial than neighboring Columbia County (2.6% Multiracial), Green County (2.1% Multiracial), Rock County (4.2% Multiracial), Sauk County (4.4% Multiracial), and Jefferson County (2.7% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.