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Rent Tracker
The average asking rent in Madison, WI is $1,673/month as of 2026-03. That is +2.8% compared to a year ago.
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI) · zillow.com/research
Current Avg Rent
$1,673/mo
as of 2026-03
Year-over-Year Change
+2.8%
Monthly ZORI index values for Madison, WI.
| Month | Avg Asking Rent | Change from Prior Month |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-03 | $1,673 | +0.66% |
| 2026-02 | $1,662 | +0.67% |
| 2026-01 | $1,651 | -0.06% |
| 2025-12 | $1,652 | -0.72% |
| 2025-11 | $1,664 | +0.00% |
| 2025-10 | $1,664 | +0.67% |
| 2025-09 | $1,653 | +0.67% |
| 2025-08 | $1,642 | +0.06% |
| 2025-07 | $1,641 | -0.12% |
| 2025-06 | $1,643 | +0.24% |
| 2025-05 | $1,639 | +0.18% |
| 2025-04 | $1,636 | +0.55% |
| 2025-03 | $1,627 | +0.31% |
| 2025-02 | $1,622 | +0.50% |
| 2025-01 | $1,614 | -0.25% |
| 2024-12 | $1,618 | +0.50% |
| 2024-11 | $1,610 | +0.37% |
| 2024-10 | $1,604 | +0.94% |
| 2024-09 | $1,589 | +0.13% |
| 2024-08 | $1,587 | +0.13% |
| 2024-07 | $1,585 | -0.06% |
| 2024-06 | $1,586 | +0.25% |
| 2024-05 | $1,582 | +0.25% |
| 2024-04 | $1,578 | — |
Shelter is the single largest component of the official CPI, accounting for roughly one-third of the index. But the BLS shelter index tends to lag real-market rent changes by 12–18 months because it measures rents paid by all tenants — including long-term renters locked into old leases. ZORI measures asking rents for new leases, making it a timelier signal of where CPI shelter inflation is headed.
When ZORI is rising sharply in your city, it is a leading indicator that official shelter inflation — and therefore overall CPI — will remain elevated in coming months.
Data: Zillow Research ZORI · Updated monthly · Price Inflation Report