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Living in
DeForest.
About
Life in DeForest
DeForest is a community of 10,853 people in Wisconsin. The median household income is $106,223, median rent runs about $1,442 per month, and median home values are around $359,600. Unemployment is low at 2.6%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
DeForest at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
40.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
5.7%
Foreign-Born
3.5%
Broadband Internet
96.4%
of households
Population Growth
+21.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.5% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in DeForest: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In DeForest, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (26.1%), and 2.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
25.6%
of residents
65 and Older
15.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
36.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
20.4%
of households
Married Couples
58.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.48
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 33% above WI average
Rent, home values, and income in DeForest
In DeForest, rent runs 33% above the WI average, and home values are 35% above the WI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
27.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
17.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
97.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,747
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
77.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1993
median year built
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.6 pts below WI average
Unemployment in DeForest and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Dane County, which includes DeForest, is 0.6 percentage points lower than the WI average.
Unemployment rate
DeForest: Dane County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Dane County (county-wide) · Annual averages
DeForest is about 2% of Dane County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What DeForest Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Madison, WI metro area
Commute26.2 min avg
How DeForest residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In DeForest, most residents drive alone to work (72%), and 65% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 7 mi
Dane County Regional Truax Field (MSN)
Small hub1.2M passengers boarded in 2025
- 76 mi
General Mitchell International Airport (MKE)
Medium hub2.9M passengers boarded in 2025
- 114 mi
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Major hub40.7M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 88% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in DeForest runs 88% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
39.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
727.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Deforest Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Weather most common — 22 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
93.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Dane County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Dane County, which includes DeForest, the most common type is winter weather, with 22 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 22 | Winter Weather | $40,000 |
| 2024 | 34 | Thunderstorm Wind | $4.3M |
| 2023 | 18 | Winter Storm | $144,000 |
| 2022 | 33 | Winter Weather | $388,000 |
| 2021 | 22 | Winter Weather | $32,000 |
| 2020 | 19 | Winter Weather | $40,500 |
| 2019 | 33 | Winter Weather | $204,500 |
| 2018 | 29 | Winter Weather | $37.9M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Dane County, county-wide
DeForest is about 2% of Dane County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality41 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Dane County, which includes DeForest, is typically good — 246 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
41
Good Days
246
per year
Moderate Days
113
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Dane County, county-wide
DeForest is about 2% of Dane County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate80°F summers, 12°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
DeForest has warm summers (avg high 80°F) and very cold winters (avg low 12°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
56°/34°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
80°/58°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
59°/38°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
30°/12°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
35.5"
Annual Snowfall
42.6"
Hot Days/Year
8
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
164
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
105
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 26°F | 9°F | 1.24" |
| Feb | 31°F | 12°F | 1.40" |
| Mar | 43°F | 23°F | 1.98" |
| Apr | 57°F | 34°F | 3.74" |
| May | 69°F | 46°F | 4.24" |
| Jun | 79°F | 56°F | 5.14" |
| Jul | 82°F | 60°F | 4.17" |
| Aug | 80°F | 58°F | 3.80" |
| Sep | 73°F | 49°F | 3.34" |
| Oct | 60°F | 38°F | 2.78" |
| Nov | 44°F | 26°F | 2.23" |
| Dec | 32°F | 16°F | 1.45" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in DeForest
Uninsured
3.8%
of residents
No hospitals inside DeForest's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Mendota Mental Health Institute
Psychiatric · 7.1 mi away · Madison
University of Wi Hospitals & Clinics Authority
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 11.4 mi away · Madison
Madison VA Medical Center
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available · 11.6 mi away · Madison
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education13.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in DeForest
DeForest's student/teacher ratio is 13.9:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 41.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
41.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near DeForest (within 15 miles)
University of Wisconsin-Madison
11.1 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 36,902 students · in-state tuition $12,166 · 90% graduate · median earnings $80,330 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,107 students · in-state tuition $37,120 · 64% graduate · median earnings $64,869 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Ice Age National Scenic Trail, 54 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for DeForest
DeForest has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Ice Age National Scenic Trail (54 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Ice Age National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
54 mi awayEffigy Mounds National Monument
National Monument
94 mi awayPublic Libraries in DeForest
Deforest Area Public Library
203 Library St., Deforest
Cities Near DeForest
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to DeForest?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
DeForest FAQ
Is DeForest, Wisconsin affordable?⌄
DeForest's median rent is $1,442/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $106,419/year. Median home value is $359,600.
Is DeForest, Wisconsin safe?⌄
DeForest's violent crime rate was 40 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 727 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in DeForest, Wisconsin?⌄
Dane County, which includes DeForest, has an unemployment rate of 2.6%, which is strong — well below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in DeForest, Wisconsin?⌄
The cost of living in DeForest is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,442/month and median household income is $106,419/year. The median home value is $359,600. About 28% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in DeForest, Wisconsin?⌄
The average commute in DeForest is 26 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from