CitytisticsShortlist

Cost of living, pay and housing

42.99° N · 89.43° W · GEOID 5525950

Fitchburg

Dane County, Wisconsin · part of the Madison, WI metro

WisconsinFitchburg, WIFitchburgFitchburg

The short answer

Fitchburg is home to 32,619 people. Median household income is $86,516 a year and median rent is $1,373 a month, 19.0% of income (a ratio of two medians, not any one household's burden). Rent pressure is lighter than in most places. The median home is valued at $417,200, about 4.8x annual median household income.

Fitchburg is defined by its growth. Population growth since 2020 is 11.7%, against 4.2% in its closest peers. Also notable: Unemployment is 1.9%, against 4.2% in its closest peers.

91OF 100

CTXCitytistics Index

Exceptional

Fitchburg scores better than 91% of the 6,612 places we rate, and ranks 60th of 158 in Wisconsin.

How the CTX is built

Category ratings · 0 to 100, typical place 50

Affordability 20%45
Economy 20%78
Safety 20%62
Amenities 15%67
Education 10%87
Commute 10%86
Growth 5%64
Median gross rent
$1,373
1% above the median place
Median household income
$86,516
8% above the median place
Median home value
$417,200
31% above the median place
Unemployment
1.9%
61% below the median place

Compared with the median of the 6,645 places we track. The bundle was checked 2026-11-14; each measure may refer to an older release.

What stands out about Fitchburg

  • Life nearbyAbout 47 km of named paths and bike trails are mapped in and around the city, more than in 96% of the 987 places of 25,000 to 50,000 people we track.
01

Moving to Fitchburg

Dane County gains about 0.8 residents per 1,000 a year to moves between counties.

Moved in22,757
Moved out22,366
Net+391

Where people come from and where they go, top counties

Within Wisconsin, other states or abroad

Arrivals
Leavers
Within WisconsinOther statesAbroad

Income per tax return

Arrivals$66K
Leavers$77K

People on tax returns who moved between counties, from IRS migration data, 2022 to 2023. Figures are for all of Dane County; flows under 20 returns are not published.

Who moves here
9.4% of residents arrived from another county in the past year, 5.5% from another state.
Who arrives and who leaves
Households moving into Dane County report $65,700 a year in income on average; those leaving, $77,400, so leavers earn more than newcomers.
Income you would need
$54,900 a year to rent the median home at the 30% line. From your city
Rent or buy
Median rent is $1,373 a month; owners with a mortgage pay $2,384 a month including taxes and insurance, on a median home of $417,200.
Getting to work
19 minutes each way on average; 16.1% work from home; 2.9% take transit.
If it is close but not quite
Perrysburg, OH matches it on character for less of your income. Compare the two
Moved from another state1
5.5%
177% above the median place
Moved here in the past year1
9.4%
64% above the median place
Income of households moving out7
$77,383
10% above the median place
All 5 moving measures
MeasureFitchburgAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Moved here in the past year19.4%64% above
Moved from another state15.5%177% above
Net movers per 1,000 people7County figure0.8above (median -0.6)
Income of households moving in7County figure$65,6657% below
Income of households moving out7County figure$77,38310% above
02

What it costs to live here

Homeownership is 47.6%, 28% below the median place.

Fitchburg19.0%
Typical place20.4%

Share of the median household income that goes to the median rent. Above 30% is the usual stress line.

Income needed to rent
$54,920
a year, at the 30% line
Rent to income
19.0%
7% below the median place
Home price to income
4.8x
27% above the median place

Could you afford it?

The median rent would take
19%
comfortably under the 30% line
Left after rent, in US prices
$72,900
a year
Vs the typical household here
Same
as the median household

Uses the median rent in Fitchburg, $1,373 a month, and local prices for everything else (96.8 against a US average of 100). It runs in your browser and stores nothing.

Like Fitchburg, but easier on the budget

Places that match Fitchburg on character (size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, remote work and climate) but where rent takes a clearly smaller share of income. Cost was left out of the match on purpose.

PlaceMatchRent to incomeMore left a year
Perrysburg, OH8012.9% vs 19.0%$28,500Compare
Savoy, IL7913.1% vs 19.0%$10,000Compare
Plover, WI7814.8% vs 19.0%n/aCompare
Bentonville, AR7714.3% vs 19.0%$30,100Compare

Moving from somewhere else? Work out the salary you would need in Fitchburg.

Sponsored · exampleMoving to Fitchburg? Compare quotes from licensed movers. No partner is signed yet. Sponsored offers are always labelled and never change the data.
Homeownership1
47.6%
28% below the median place
Property tax paid (median)1
$7,187
120% above the median place
Property tax rate1
1.7%
89% above the median place
All 15 cost and housing measures
MeasureFitchburgAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median gross rent1$1,3731% above
Rent to income119.0%7% below
Property tax rate11.7%89% above
Home price to income14.8x27% above
Prices vs US average2Metro figure97.34% below
Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms3County figure$1,5653% below
Property tax paid (median)1$7,187120% above
Median home value1$417,20031% above
Home prices, 1-year change4County figure4.1%29% above
Home prices, 5-year change4County figure53.6%4% above
Homeownership147.6%28% below
Renters paying 30%+149.5%2% below
Owner costs with a mortgage1$2,38427% above
Vacant homes1County figure3.6%48% below
Median year built119961% above
03

Work and pay

Unemployment averaged 1.9% over the survey period, lower than in 98% of the 985 places of 25,000 to 50,000 people we track.

Unemployment1
1.9%
61% below the median place
Mean commute1
19 min
24% below the median place
Income per person1
$59,210
48% above the median place

More on work and pay, against the typical place

Works from home16.1% +30%
Poverty rate9.3% −14%
Median household income$86,516 +8%
All 10 work and pay measures
MeasureFitchburgAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median household income1$86,5168% above
Income per person1$59,21048% above
Unemployment11.9%61% below
Average annual pay5County figure$77,26017% above
Pay growth, 1 year5County figure3.7%0% above
Jobs5County figure361,286140% above
Poverty rate19.3%14% below
Mean commute119 min24% below
Works from home116.1%30% above
Commutes by transit1County figure2.9%238% above
04

Who lives here

Household size is 2.0, 19% below the median place.

Household size1
2.0
19% below the median place
Population change since 20206
11.7%
above the median place (median 1.1%)
Bachelor's or higher1
57.7%
80% above the median place

More about who lives here, against the typical place

Median age34.4 −12%
Homes with broadband95.9% +4%
Born abroad13.8% +56%
High school or higher94.2% +2%
No health insurance6.5% +2%
All 9 people measures
MeasureFitchburgAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Population132,6191407th largest
Population change since 2020611.7%above (median 1.1%)
Median age134.412% below
Bachelor's or higher157.7%80% above
High school or higher194.2%2% above
Household size12.019% below
Born abroad113.8%56% above
No health insurance16.5%2% above
Homes with broadband195.9%4% above
05

Life in Fitchburg

OpenStreetMap shows 31.6 parks per 10,000 residents, more than in 97% of the 987 places of 25,000 to 50,000 people we track.

5 sites are on the National Register of Historic Places, 12 of them National Historic Landmarks. Its history on Wikipedia

  • McCoy Farmhouse listed 1980
  • Mann, John, House listed 1982
  • Fox Hall listed 1983
  • Wisconsin Industrial School for Girls listed 1991
  • Spooner-Haight Farmstead (Additional Documentation) listed 1993

Out the door, against the typical place

Parks per 10k residents31.6 3.1×
Playgrounds per 10k37.1 3.9×
Grocery stores per 10k1.8 −13%
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k13.2 +18%
Libraries per 10k0.6 −30%
Named paths and bike trails47 km 23.4×
Bus and rail stops per sq mi2.5 11.9×

Mapped by volunteers in OpenStreetMap inside the city limits (Census boundaries), so coverage is fuller in some places than others. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

National Park Service sites nearby

  • Ice Age Trail 34 miles
  • Effigy Mounds National Monument 89 miles
  • Pullman National Historical Park 129 miles

Businesses per 10,000 residents (county figures)

Restaurants and bars23.1 +11%
Shops28.3 −7%
Arts, recreation and fitness6.3 +54%
Doctors' offices and clinics16.2 −20%
Child care centers3.5 +52%

Counts businesses with paid staff, so small owner-run shops are not included.

Students per teacher13
11.5
25% below the median place
Public school students13
1,218
75% below the median place
Public schools13
5
44% below the median place
All 18 schools and local life measures
MeasureFitchburgAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Public schools13544% below
Public school students131,21875% below
Students per teacher1311.525% below
Restaurants and bars per 10k8County figure23.111% above
Shops per 10k8County figure28.37% below
Arts, recreation and fitness per 10k8County figure6.354% above
Doctors' offices and clinics per 10k8County figure16.220% below
Child care centers per 10k8County figure3.552% above
Parks per 10k931.6211% above
Playgrounds per 10k937.1294% above
Grocery stores per 10k91.813% below
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k913.218% above
Libraries per 10k90.630% below
Named paths and bike trails946.9above (median 2.0)
Transit stops per sq mi92.5above (median 0.2)
Nearest National Park Service site1034.412% above
National Park Service sites within 60 miles10150% below
National Register listings11562% below
06

Safety, weather and risk

Violent crime per 100k is 148, 23% below the median place.

Violent crime per 100k
148
23% below the median place
Property crime per 100k
901
26% below the median place
Months reported
12 of 12
by the city police department to the FBI

Counts only offenses reported by the city police department. Sheriff, state and campus police are not included, and some departments do not report to the FBI at all, so compare with care.

January average low14
11°F
57% below the median place
Average temperature14
47°F
15% below the median place
Tornado risk15
97.6
20% above the median place
All 11 weather and risk measures
MeasureFitchburgAmong 6,645 placesVs median
July average high14County figure82°F5% below
January average low14County figure11°F57% below
Average temperature14County figure47°F15% below
Annual precipitation14County figure37.3 in15% below
Natural hazard risk15County figure93.92% above
Hurricane risk15County figure29.259% below
Tornado risk15County figure97.620% above
Wildfire risk15County figure60.22% below
Heat wave risk15County figure95.36% above
Median air quality index16County figure415% below
Good air days16County figure67.4%2% below
08

Fitchburg in 2030: where the trends point

If recent trends hold, the median rent will take about 19% of the median income in 2030, about the same as 19% now.

Citytistics projections to 2030: each figure's own trend, blended with the typical trend across the places we rate, eased toward long-run US growth and carried forward from the latest release. The range is where 80% of places landed when we tested the same method on past releases. On projected 2030 affordability, Fitchburg does better than 44% of places. Its projected home value growth beats 15%.

MeasureLatest2030 projectionLikely rangeAvg. per year
Median rent$1,373/mo (2024)$1,760/mo$1,450 to $2,150/mo+4.2%
Median household income$86,516 (2024)$109,000$92,000 to $129,000+3.9%
Median home value$417,200 (2024)$583,000$423,000 to $803,000+5.7%
Population34,615 (2025)36,82035,320 to 38,390+1.2%

The median home would be worth 5.3 years of the median income in 2030, against 4.8 now.

A projection of recent trends, not a prediction of the economy or advice to buy or sell. How we project.

09

Places like Fitchburg

The closest matches on income, rent, home value, education and age, and the places nearby.

PlaceRentIncome
Durham, NC$1,508$81,619Compare
Minneapolis, MN$1,371$80,846Compare
Raleigh, NC$1,572$85,395Compare
St. Matthews, KY$1,369$82,412Compare
St. Matthews, KYRaleigh, NCMinneapolis, MNDurham, NCFitchburg, WIFitchburgDurhamMinneapolisRaleighSt. MatthewsFitchburgDurhamMinneapolisRaleighSt. Matthews

Places built like Fitchburg

Its statistical peers: the closest matches on size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, origin and remote work, in the same part of the country. Cost and outcomes are left out of the match, so the table shows how Fitchburg performs against places like it.

PlaceRent to incomeIncome growthPop. change
Fitchburg, WI19.0%3.6%/yr11.7%
Auburn Hills, MI21.0%5.6%/yr6.4%Compare
Middleton, WI19.3%3.3%/yr5.7%Compare
Wixom, MI19.0%4.2%/yr0.7%Compare
Lisle, IL18.5%3.5%/yr-1.2%Compare
Sun Prairie, WI18.7%3.3%/yr9.0%Compare
Coralville, IA18.3%2.8%/yr7.3%Compare

Common questions

Is Fitchburg a good place to live?

It depends on what you need, so here is what the numbers say. Its Citytistics Index is 91 out of 100, better than 91% of the places we rate and 60th of 158 in Wisconsin. About 47 km of named paths and bike trails are mapped in and around the city, more than in 96% of the 987 places of 25,000 to 50,000 people we track. On cost, space and class size it scores 34 out of 100 for families. See how it ranks with your own weights.

Is Fitchburg expensive to live in?

The median rent takes 19.0% of the median household income, against 20.4% in the typical place we track. Housing is a lighter load here than usual. The median home is valued at $417,200.

What salary do you need to live in Fitchburg?

To rent the median home without spending more than 30% of income on rent, a household needs about $54,920 a year. Work it out from your current city.

Is Fitchburg safe?

There were 148 reported violent crimes per 100,000 residents, against 192 in the typical place.

What places are similar to Fitchburg?

On income, rent, home value, education and age, the closest matches are Durham, NC, Minneapolis, MN, Raleigh, NC and St. Matthews, KY.

Sources and methods

The small numbers beside each measure point here. Every dataset is public; links go to the publisher.

  1. American Community Survey 5-year estimates · US Census Bureau · 2020 to 2024 estimatesTables B01002, B01003, B05002, B07003, B08013, B08301, B15003, B17001, B19013, B19301, B23025, B25002, B25003, B25010, B25035, B25064, B25070, B25077, B25088, B25103, B28002, S2701
  2. Regional Price Parities · US Bureau of Economic Analysis · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  3. Fair Market Rents · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2027
  4. House Price Index · Federal Housing Finance Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  5. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · US Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2025 annual averages
  6. Population Estimates · US Census Bureau · Vintage 2025
  7. SOI Tax Stats, county-to-county migration · Internal Revenue Service · Tax years 2022 to 2023Counts tax returns and the people on them; flows under 20 returns are suppressed.
  8. County Business Patterns · US Census Bureau · 2023 data
  9. OpenStreetMap · © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL) · Map data as of 2026-11
  10. National Park Service sites · Wikidata (CC0), units operated by the National Park Service · Retrieved 2026-11
  11. National Register of Historic Places · National Park Service · Listings through 2026-05-22
  12. Crime Data Explorer · Federal Bureau of Investigation · 2025 data
  13. Common Core of Data · National Center for Education Statistics · 2024 release
  14. 1991-2020 climate normals · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information · Series updated 2026-11-05Averages for 1991 to 2020 computed from NOAA's county climate series (nClimDiv).nClimDiv county series
  15. National Risk Index · Federal Emergency Management Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14NRI data and maps
  16. Air Quality System, annual AQI by county · US Environmental Protection Agency · 2025 dataAirData download files

Derived by Citytistics from the tables above: rent to income (B25064, B19013); property tax rate (B25103, B25077); home price to income (B25077, B19013).

What stands out compares Fitchburg with places of a similar size, using only figures measured for Fitchburg itself; county and metro figures never count. Survey figures are estimates with margins of error. Formulas and definitions: methodology. API: /api/v1/places/fitchburg-wisconsin

Citytistics. “Fitchburg, Wisconsin.” Data as of 2026-11-14. https://www.citytistics.com/city/fitchburg-wisconsin/

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.