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Living in Waunakee WI is wonderful for everyone! Various Indigenous communities lived in the Waunakee area for thousands of years until White settlers arrived in the 1840s. Louis Baker and George Fish platted a village to serve as a railroad depot for the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad. People began moving to Waunakee in 1871, and the state government incorporated the community as a village in 1893. "Waunakee" is an Indigenous word that means "fair and pleasant valley." It's also a derivative of the Chippewa name Waunaki. Its motto is "The Only Waunakee in the World."
Waunakee Wisconsin has remained a small and quaint community for the last 100 years. It's now a nice place to live, with attractive single family homes and top local shops. It's best known for its outdoor activities and attractions, including over 450 miles of hiking trails.
Living in Waunakee WI is perfect for families, young professionals, and retirees. But before you start moving to Waunakee, you need to learn more about what makes Waunakee highly desirable. Here's what to know about this special village.
Where is Waunakee Wisconsin, and what county is Waunakee WI in? Waunakee is in Dane County, inside the Madison, WI metropolitan area. It is a suburb of Madison. It is 12.4 miles from Waunakee to Madison. Middleton, Westport, Vienna, Springfield, Windsor, DeForest, and Dane border Waunakee.
The area immediately around Waunakee is largely undeveloped, consisting of farmlands and green areas. Waunakee itself is largely developed, though it's predominantly residential with a few industrial and commercial areas. Notable geographic features include Six Mile Creek and Castle Creek Conservancy.
The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program of Dane County offers an escort program for residents living in Waunakee WI. Residents living in Waunakee WI can get free rides to medical appointments anywhere in the county. The Waunakee Senior Center also offers rides between its location and various shopping destinations, including Walmart and Costco. Most residents living in Waunakee WI drive, and State Route 113 provides access to some of the best neighborhoods in Madison.
Waunakee Population and Demographics
According to the US Census, the Waunakee population in 2023 was 15,152, up by 25.3% since 2010. Waunakee is one of the fastest-growing communities in Wisconsin, with a higher population growth than Dane County and most cities near Madison. People are moving to Waunakee from Madison and many locations, including Sun Prairie, McFarland, and Roscoe.
It's currently the largest village in the Madison metropolitan area, with a population bigger than some cities. The Waunakee population density is 2,113.2 people per square mile living in Waunakee WI. The Waunakee density is over four times higher than the Dane County density.
Notable people living in Waunakee WI include Mike Moh, Ron Dayne, and Kelly Sheffield. Waunakee Wisconsin demographics include:
52.8% male, 47.2% female
Median age of residents living in Waunakee WI: 39.4
Racial and ethnic composition of residents living in Waunakee WI: 89.2% White (88.2% non-Hispanic), 5.4% two or more races, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 1.9% Black or African American, 1.8% Asian, 1.2% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
Median household income of residents living in Waunakee WI: $132,305 (nearly twice the state median)
Educational attainment: 98.7% of residents living in Waunakee WI over the age of 25 have graduated high school, 62.0% have a bachelor's degree
Foreign-born population of residents living in Waunakee WI: 3.9%
Waunakee is one of the wealthiest communities in Wisconsin. 60.7% of households make at least $100,000 a year. 30.7% of households make at least $200,000, over four times the Wisconsin rate. Waunakee's median age is higher than the state median, but Waunakee is a kid-friendly community. 28.0% of residents living in Waunakee WI are under the age of 18.
Waunakee is one of the safest communities in Wisconsin, with many peaceful subdivisions. Here are its latest crime rates, according to the FBI in 2022:
Overall crime rate: 355 offenses per 100,000 residents living in Waunakee WI (91.3% lower than the Rockford crime rate, 78.9% lower than the Wisconsin crime rate, 84.7% lower than the national average)
Violent crime rate: 60 violent crimes per 100,000 people living in Waunakee WI (79.8% lower than the state rate, 83.8% lower than the national rate)
Property crime rate: 295 offenses per 100,000 people living in Waunakee WI (78.7% lower than the Wisconsin rate, 84.9% lower than the national rate)
You can use Madison cost of living statistics to estimate the cost of living in Waunakee. The Madison cost of living index compares the cost of items in Madison to the cost of those same items nationwide. The overall Madison cost of living index is 103.9, meaning items in the area cost 3.9% higher than the national average. Nearly every type of expense is higher than the national average.
According to the Economic Policy Institute, a family of four would need to earn $119,563 a year to cover the cost of living in the Madison area. Child care is the single highest expense by far. A family of four with two children spends an average of $30,744 a year on child care alone. If you don't have kids, you can spend a lot less money and look at smaller Waunakee homes that are more affordable.
Waunakee WI real estate can be affordable, even for new construction homes. According to Redfin, Waunakee homes for sale have a median cost of $547,450 and an average cost per square foot of $197. According to RentCafe, Waunakee apartments have an average cost of $1,483 a month, $256 lower than the national average.
Waunakee Neighborhoods | Where to Live in Waunakee
Waunakee is a vibrant village with many fun neighborhoods and master planned subdivisions to live in. If you need to look at different housing options, you can compare neighborhoods together to find the right Waunakee WI real estate for you. Here are the best places to live in Waunakee.
Southbridge | Best Waunakee Neighborhood for Parks
Southbridge was initially farmland, but it's now a quaint community popular amongst growing families. You can find several beautiful parks in or bordering the community, making Southbridge perfect for outdoor enthusiasts living in Waunakee WI. Tierney Park has soccer fields, a swing set, a baseball field, and combination basketball/tennis courts.
Peaceful Valley Park covers 4.7 acres and contains eight picnic tables for picnics and parties. Southbridge has a small real estate market, but you can find four-bedroom homes covering over 4,000 square feet for less than $1 million.
Savannah Village is a compact residential neighborhoods with some of the most affordable homes in Waunakee. The real estate market in Savannah Village is small, but you can find five-bedroom homes covering 3,500 square feet for $700,000. In the past, Savannah Village homes for sale have sold for as little as $500,000. Savannah Village borders State Route 113, providing access to Madison and cities east of Madison.
Waunakee Weather and Climate
Waunakee has a humid continental climate, with warm and humid summers and freezing and snowy winters. July is the hottest month of the year, with an average temperature of 72 degrees and an average high of 82. Temperatures peak in mid-July and then start to decline in earnest in early September. January is the coldest month for Waunakee weather, with an average temperature of 19 degrees and an average low of 13.
Winters are relatively cloudy for living in Waunakee WI, with roughly 60% overcast and mostly cloudy days. Skies clear up in the spring, and July, August, and September have roughly two-thirds clear, mostly clear, and partly cloudy days. Waunakee has 27.7 inches of rain and 20.7 inches of snow. The high amount of rain in the summer produces humidity in the summer, with 10 days in July being muggy and oppressive. You can experience severe weather while living in Waunakee WI, including snowstorms in the winter.
September is the best month to start living in Waunakee WI and visit things to do. The average temperature is 61 degrees, so you can enjoy things to do in a light jacket and long pants.
Things to Do in Waunakee WI
You can enjoy many kid-friendly and cool things to do in Waunakee WI, including venues for live music and great stores. Main Street Market Piggy Wiggly is the top grocery store in the community, offering affordable food and household goods for all residents living in Waunakee WI. You can shop at a number of local stores, including Red Barn Company Store and Evie & Co, two top boutiques.
Governor Nelson State Park covers 422 acres, making it one of the biggest state parks in Wisconsin. You can hike 8.4 miles on paved trails, lounge on a 500-foot sand beach, and ski on snow-covered trails in the winter. The state park is close to Lake Mendota, giving you opportunities for ice fishing.
Drumlin Ridge Winery produces artisan-crafted wine in a family-friendly atmosphere. The winery is open throughout the year, offering wine classes and tastings. It's a top destination for special events, including weddings and corporate functions.
The Waunakee Village Center has an indoor gym and fitness center, an arts and crafts space, and a senior center. It's a top destination for special events, including holiday events and festivals from the Village of Waunakee.
The Waunakee Parks Department takes care of all public spaces in the small town, including Ripp Park and Centennial Park. The department helps organize special events like parties and festivals throughout the year. You can use the Waunakee events calendar to see when these events will occur.
Waunakee Restaurants
The Madison area has an eclectic cuisine, with unique dishes like cheese curds and beer cheese soup. You can try out a range of dishes and cuisines at Waunakee restaurants, enjoying family-friendly experiences.
China Wok is the top Waunakee restaurant for takeout and delivery while living in Waunakee WI. It's a casual Chinese restaurant that serves classic Chinese dishes like lo mein, chow mein, and egg foo young. You can order combination platters with fried rice and egg rolls for just $12, making China Wok perfect for an affordable lunch.
Lone Girl is the top brewpub in Waunakee, making it suitable for date nights and romantic visits. The brewery has 12 rotating taps with beers, ales, and lagers from local breweries. You can also enjoy sandwiches and a rotating list of weekly specials, making each visit to Lone Girl distinct.
Rex's Innkeeper is a classy American restaurant with lunch and dinner menus. It's best known for its prime rib, steaks, and seafood, and you can also enjoy salads, ribs, and crispy chicken.
7,867 people have jobs in Waunakee WI, up by 18.4% since 2013. Professional services, health care, and education are the three largest job sectors in Waunakee. They account for a combined total of 45.6% of jobs in Waunakee WI. Each sector has median earnings of over $175,000 a year. Nearly one-quarter of residents living in Waunakee WI work in management occupations with median earnings of over $230,000 a year.
The Waunakee Community School District is the main Waunakee school district. It serves all students living in Waunakee WI. The district contains seven schools:
Waunakee 4K, a preschool for students as young as four
US News ranks Waunakee Intermediate School in the top 25 middle schools in Wisconsin. 69% of Waunakee Intermediate School students test at or above the proficiency level in mathematics, 32 percentage points higher than the state average.
US News also ranks Waunakee High School in the top 20 high schools in Wisconsin. Over half of students at Waunakee High School pass at least one AP test, and 98% graduate in four years.
Madison Country Day School (MCDS) is a top PreK-12 private school with an International Baccalaureate curriculum. Your MCDS students living in Waunakee WI can try out dozens of extracurriculars, including athletic and arts programs. There are no colleges or universities in Waunakee. The Waunakee Public Library serves all people living in Waunakee WI, with thousands of books available to residents.
Waunakee Statistics and Information
County: Dane County
Waunakee area: 7.17 square miles
Waunakee zip code: 53597
Waunakee area code: 608
Waunakee elevation: 928 feet
Waunakee time zone: Central Time Zone (UTC -5 and -6)
You can find great schools, walking trails, and local shops while living in Waunakee WI using this Waunakee map.
Everyone wants to start living in Waunakee WI! Waunakee is a family-friendly community with some of the best schools, restaurants, and outdoor destinations in Wisconsin.
Moving to Waunakee isn't tricky. StraightLine Moving is the top Waunakee moving company, and it has years of experience in the moving industry. Call 815-708-7875 for a free estimate today.
