Communities We Serve: Dane County Towns and Madison Neighborhoods
Dane County is not one housing market. It's a collection of distinct towns and Madison neighborhoods, each with its own price points, school districts, commute and personality, from lake communities minutes from the Capitol to growing villages with brand-new neighborhoods.Use the guides below to compare them. Each one covers the local market, schools, things to do and the details that only come up once you've been in a lot of homes there, with a quick link to current listings.
Dane County Communities We Serve
Choose a community to see homes for sale, neighborhoods, schools and local market notes.
Madison
The state capital and Dane County's largest city, with everything from isthmus bungalows to west-side subdivisions and homes on Lake Mendota and Lake Monona. Homes for sale in Madison →
Sun Prairie
One of the county's fastest-growing cities, northeast of Madison, with new neighborhoods, a revitalized downtown and quick access to I-94 and US 151. Homes for sale in Sun Prairie →
Middleton
Just west of Madison near the west end of Lake Mendota, with a walkable downtown, Greenway Station and a strong local employment base. Homes for sale in Middleton →
Waunakee
A sought-after village north of Lake Mendota, known for its schools, family neighborhoods and small-town downtown. Homes for sale in Waunakee →
Verona
Southwest of Madison and home to Epic's campus, with newer neighborhoods, the Military Ridge State Trail and easy US 18/151 access. Homes for sale in Verona →
Fitchburg
Directly south of Madison, mixing newer subdivisions, rural acreage and a growing technology and biotech employment corridor. Homes for sale in Fitchburg →
Cottage Grove
East of Madison on I-94 and home to our office, with newer neighborhoods and the Monona Grove School District. Homes for sale in Cottage Grove →
DeForest
North of Madison on the interstate, offering more home for the money, newer construction and a quick highway commute. Homes for sale in DeForest →
Windsor
A growing village between DeForest and Sun Prairie with newer neighborhoods and a mix of suburban and rural living. Homes for sale in Windsor →
McFarland
A lake village on the eastern shore of Lake Waubesa, minutes from Madison's southeast side. Homes for sale in McFarland →
Monona
A small, established city on Lake Monona's southeast shore, almost entirely surrounded by Madison. Homes for sale in Monona →
Stoughton
A historic city on the Yahara River with Norwegian roots, a classic downtown and Lake Kegonsa nearby. Homes for sale in Stoughton →
Oregon
A family-friendly village south of Fitchburg with a historic downtown and room to grow. Homes for sale in Oregon →
Mount Horeb
West on US 18/151 at the edge of the Driftless Area, known for its trolls, the Military Ridge State Trail and family neighborhoods. Homes for sale in Mount Horeb →
Cross Plains
A scenic village west of Middleton in the Black Earth Creek valley, part of the Middleton-Cross Plains school district. Homes for sale in Cross Plains →
Maple Bluff
A small lakeside village on Lake Mendota's northeast shore, home to the Wisconsin Governor's Residence. Homes for sale in Maple Bluff →
Shorewood Hills
A Lake Mendota village next to UW–Madison with its own elementary school. Homes for sale in Shorewood Hills →
Deerfield
A small-town village east of Cottage Grove near I-94, with its own school district. Homes for sale in Deerfield →
Marshall
A village on the Maunesha River in northeast Dane County, offering small-town value. Homes for sale in Marshall →
Belleville
A Sugar River village on the Badger State Trail, south of Verona. Homes for sale in Belleville →
Mazomanie
A historic village near the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway in northwest Dane County. Homes for sale in Mazomanie →
Looking at a town that isn’t listed here? We help buyers and sellers across Dane County and the surrounding area. Tell us where you’re looking.
Madison Neighborhoods We Serve
Madison is a city of distinct neighborhoods. Explore our guides to the areas buyers ask about most, from the isthmus and the near east side to the established west side.
Downtown & Capitol
Condos and historic homes around the Capitol Square between two lakes. Downtown & Capitol homes for sale →
Tenney-Lapham
Isthmus living by Tenney Park, the Yahara River and Lake Mendota. Tenney-Lapham homes for sale →
Marquette
Willy Street, historic homes and festivals near Lake Monona. Marquette homes for sale →
Schenk-Atwood
Atwood Avenue, the Barrymore and Olbrich Gardens on the east side. Schenk-Atwood homes for sale →
Emerson East
Near-east homes by Emerson Elementary and the Yahara River. Emerson East homes for sale →
Eken Park
An affordable, close-knit near-east neighborhood. Eken Park homes for sale →
Eastmorland
Postwar homes near Olbrich Park and Lake Monona. Eastmorland homes for sale →
Lake Edge
Quiet mid-century streets next to Monona and the golf course. Lake Edge homes for sale →
Grandview Commons
A newer, walkable far-east neighborhood near Cottage Grove. Grandview Commons homes for sale →
Sherman & North Side
Warner Park, Lake Mendota and north-side value. Sherman & North Side homes for sale →
Dudgeon-Monroe
Monroe Street, Lake Wingra and the UW Arboretum. Dudgeon-Monroe homes for sale →
Vilas
Vilas Park, the free zoo and Lake Wingra near campus. Vilas homes for sale →
Greenbush
Historic near-west streets close to campus and the hospitals. Greenbush homes for sale →
Bay Creek
Near-south homes on Monona Bay with lake paths. Bay Creek homes for sale →
Regent
Early-1900s homes beside UW–Madison and West High. Regent homes for sale →
Nakoma
A planned 1920s neighborhood beside the Arboretum. Nakoma homes for sale →
Westmorland
Mid-century homes on the Southwest Commuter Path. Westmorland homes for sale →
Sunset Village
Cape Cods and bungalows near Hilldale and Hoyt Park. Sunset Village homes for sale →
Midvale Heights
Postwar ranches and Cape Cods on the west side. Midvale Heights homes for sale →
Hill Farms
Mid-century modern homes next to Hilldale. Hill Farms homes for sale →
Spring Harbor
West-side living on Lake Mendota near Middleton. Spring Harbor homes for sale →
See every listing in the city on our Madison homes for sale guide, or ask us about a neighborhood not listed here.
How to Choose the Right Dane County Community
Most buyers start with a commute and a budget, then narrow by schools and lifestyle. A few patterns hold across the county and are worth knowing before you start touring:
- Water costs more. Lake communities such as Madison, Monona, McFarland and Middleton carry a premium for frontage and access.
- Built-out vs. growing. Established places like Monona have limited inventory, while growing communities like Sun Prairie, DeForest, Windsor, Verona and Mount Horeb offer more new construction.
- School districts don’t follow city limits. Monona Grove serves both Monona and Cottage Grove, and Fitchburg is split among several districts. Always verify by address.
- Pick your corridor. The Beltline, I-94, I-39/90 and US 18/151 shape commute times far more than straight-line distance does.
When you’re ready, search Dane County homes for sale, read our guide to buying a home, or grab the free home buyer checklist. Thinking of selling first? Start with a free home valuation.
Frequently Asked
Frequently Asked Questions About Dane County Communities
What are the most popular places to live in Dane County?
It depends on your priorities. Waunakee, Middleton, Verona and Sun Prairie are popular with families, Madison and Monona appeal to buyers who want walkability and lake access, and DeForest, Windsor and Mount Horeb often offer more house for the money.
Which Dane County communities have the most new construction?
Growing communities such as Sun Prairie, DeForest, Windsor, Verona, Cottage Grove and Mount Horeb have added the most new neighborhoods in recent years. Built-out places like Monona rarely have new construction.
How do school districts work in Dane County?
School district boundaries often cross municipal lines. Monona Grove serves Monona and Cottage Grove, and Fitchburg addresses can fall in the Madison, Verona or Oregon districts. Verify the district and attendance area for each specific address.
Which Dane County communities are on a lake?
Madison sits on Lake Mendota and Lake Monona, Monona is on Lake Monona, Middleton is near the west end of Lake Mendota, McFarland is on Lake Waubesa, and Stoughton is close to Lake Kegonsa.
How far are the suburbs from downtown Madison?
Most nearby communities are roughly 15 to 30 minutes from downtown Madison by car, depending on the route and time of day. Monona and Fitchburg are among the closest; Mount Horeb and Stoughton are toward the longer end.
Can you help me compare communities?
Yes. Tell us your budget, commute and must-haves, and we’ll suggest the communities and neighborhoods that fit, then set up a search for each.
Not Sure Which Community Fits?
We work with buyers and sellers across Dane County every week, and we'll give you an honest comparison of the towns on your list, including the trade-offs that don't show up in a listing.Send us what you're looking for and we'll get back to you the same day.