RANK #259 / 1001 NAT · #11 / 29 WI · POP 88,742
1YR FORECAST: +3.9%
5YR OUTLOOK: +20%
Horicon Marsh, the largest freshwater cattail marsh in the United States, is a defining feature of Dodge County, Wisconsin, offering extensive opportunities for birdwatching, hiking, and photography. Located in southeastern Wisconsin, Dodge County is centrally positioned with access to larger metropolitan areas like Milwaukee and Madison. Commutes to these cities are feasible via major highways such as US 151 and I-41. The county's landscape blends rural tranquility with developed areas, featuring numerous parks and lakes like Beaver Dam Lake and Fox Lake, which provide year-round outdoor recreation.
Life in Dodge County offers a balance of community and access to nature. The area is home to families, with public schools generally performing above average. Ten public school districts operate within the county, including a nationally recognized blue ribbon school. Economic activity is diverse, with agriculture being a significant sector, and the county is a statewide leader in agricultural product sales. Recent economic developments include investments in data centers and infrastructure, contributing to the local economy and job market.
Dodge County is one of 145 U.S. counties in this market profile — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +6.3% runs above the profile's typical +4.9%.
See all 145 Heartland Steady Growth counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below-average climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 8.9x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: Homicide rates from CDC/NCHS vital-statistics mortality data — a multi-year average that stabilizes counts in smaller counties — compiled in the County Health Rankings 2025 release. Rates per 100,000 population; U.S. average ≈ 6.5. Grade reflects homicide rate relative to the national average. Learn more →
See where Dodge County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Meta Data Center Campus
Meta
|
$1,000M | Under Construction |
|
Energy Infrastructure Upgrades (supporting Meta Data Center)
Meta (financing), Alliant Energy (utility work)
|
$200M | Under Construction |
|
Springfield Solar Project
Alliant Energy
|
$100M | Completed |
|
Beaver Dam Solar Project
Alliant Energy
|
$50M | Completed |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 74/100, Dodge County sits in the upper half of all 1001 ranked counties. Employment is expanding at +0.6%, and median household income stands at $75,929 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in WI.
Housing in Dodge County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $231,900 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.33, with rents averaging $988/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Population and employment in Dodge County are both close to flat — population -0.1% YoY and jobs +0.6%. Home values shifted +6.3% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.7% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Dodge County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.
Home values climbed +6.3% year-over-year, which is a solid pace of appreciation. The median home in Dodge County is now valued at $231,900. That kind of growth typically reflects sustained demand rather than speculative frenzy.