Madison growth strains housing supply near UW campus

MADISON, Wis. — For more than a half-century, Madison has been considered one of the most desirable places to live in the United States. Since 2020, Dane County has added nearly 30,000 residents.

The engine driving much of that growth is in the heart of Madison.

“You can’t discuss housing in Madison without first understanding the impact of the university,” said Paul Soglin, who served as Madison mayor for nearly a quarter-century.

Soglin came to the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the fall of 1962. He said the university has been a defining force in the city’s housing market since World War II.

“That has since World War II really been the largest factor in determining outcomes for housing in our community,” Soglin said.

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RSK: In order to have enough housing with student population and young professionals growing in numbers and demand, the City and UW have to work together more than they are now or it will be a haphazard mess.