Madison multifamily market, October 2026

Landlords have the edge in Madison, and it is holding steady: asking rents are up 1.9% on a year, while jobs grew 0.2%.

Updated October 31, 2026 · from Zillow, BLS and the US Census Bureau

+1.9%

Asking rent, year over year

Zillow · September 2026

+0.2%

Jobs, year over year

BLS · September 2026, preliminary

3.7%YEARLY

Vacancy

Census · 2024 count

What is moving now

Asking rents are up 1.9% on a year to September 2026, which is the figure the condition is read from. Jobs are up 0.2% over the same year to September 2026, a first release the BLS revises the following month. Nothing is pulling hard either way in the latest figures (September 2026).

The backdrop

These are yearly Census counts, not this month's: 3.7% of rentals sat empty in 2024, permits for new apartments were up 26% in 2025, more people moved in than out in 2025, and the typical rent was $1,437 a month in 2024. They are the background the monthly figures move against, and they are the newest the Census has published.

See every figure behind this read

Open the live Madison read →

We watch Madison for you.

The day asking rent growth (now +1.9%) or job growth (now +0.2%) moves half a point, you get an email. Plus two years of history and the report.

Track Madison, $39/month

Cancel anytime. Every market read stays free.

Common questions about Madison

Answered from the data, updated October 31, 2026

Is the Madison rental market tight or soft right now?

In Madison right now, landlords have the edge, and it is stable.

Which way is the Madison market heading?

Madison is stable right now, as asking rents firm over the past year (Zillow ZORI, monthly).

Is Madison a landlord's or a renter's market?

Madison is a landlord's market right now: landlords have the edge, and it is stable.

What is the vacancy rate in Madison?

Vacancy in Madison is 3.7% in the 2024 count, a yearly snapshot rather than a monthly reading (US Census Bureau).

How much have Madison rents changed?

Asking rents in Madison are up 1.9% over the past year (Zillow ZORI, monthly, latest Sep 2026).

Recent coverage

Daily, from the MetroSgnl news feed. Headlines only.

ReZen Homebuyers Releases Madison Housing Market Assessmentmarkets.businessinsider.com

CBRE Arranges Sale of Future Mixed-Use Development in WisconsinConnect CRE

McShane Construction Company completes 76-unit affordable-housing community in MadisonREJournals

Madison approves west side housing project despite neighbor concernsThe Cap Times

Berkadia Arranges Sale of 228-Unit Multifamily Property Near Madison, WisconsinREBusinessOnline

Wisconsin condo development lags, leaving fewer options for affordable homesWPR

See all Madison news →

Data: Zillow ZORI, BLS, US Census Bureau, FRED, and the MetroSgnl news feed. Recomputed daily. Market information only, not investment advice.
Methodology ↗ · All insights ↗