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ElderCareCosts
Updated August 2026

Assisted Living in Madison, Wisconsin

Madison, WI has 253 licensed assisted living communities listed on ElderCareCosts. The median estimated cost is $6,639/mo. That's roughly in line with the Wisconsin state median. Most assisted living in Madison is small: 87% of licensed providers have 16 beds or fewer, against 65% nationally.

Not sure which type of care fits? Take our 3-question care quiz →

Median monthly price, Madison

$6,639/mo

Estimated range $6,320 – $6,964

● Madison $6,639 ○ National median $6,230

Source: CareScout 2025 survey, adjusted for local wages

What senior care costs in Madison

2025 figures

Assisted Living cost comparison (2025)
Assisted LivingMadisonWisconsinNational
25th percentile$6,320/mo$6,243/mo$5,488/mo
Median$6,639/mo$6,540/mo$6,230/mo
75th percentile$6,964/mo$7,108/mo$7,083/mo

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Staying home instead

Home care in Madison runs about $37 an hour. Here is what common schedules cost a month:

Hours of careWhat it looks likeEst. monthly cost
20 hrs/weekMornings or afternoons, weekdays~$3,189
44 hrs/weekMost of every weekday$7,016
24/7 (168 hrs/week)Round-the-clock coverage~$26,788

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Medicare generally does not cover long-term custodial care. Families usually combine private pay, long-term care insurance, VA Aid and Attendance, or a Medicaid waiver where they qualify. See paying for care and the state Medicaid guides.

Nearby cities: Middleton · Monona · Waunakee · Fitchburg · Verona

What can you afford?

Here is what different monthly budgets cover in Madison.

Under $2,500/mo

Adult day, family care, or affordable senior housing

Adult day care in Madison runs about $1,540 a month. Income-restricted affordable senior housing is the other common choice, and Madison has 9 such properties. The county aging agency at (608) 261-9930 can help you sort through options for free. If money is very tight, ask about Medicaid waivers.
$2,500 – $7,000/mo

Part-time home care or entry assisted living

Part-time home care usually falls here. Full-time care at 44 hours a week runs about $7,016 a month. The local assisted living median is $6,639 a month, and smaller homes often charge less. If Medicaid may apply, ask about waiver programs.
$7,000 – $11,000/mo

Assisted living with room to spare

Covers the Madison assisted living median of $6,639 a month with room to spare. It also covers close to full-time home care, about $7,016 a month.
Over $11,000/mo

Nursing care or heavy home-care schedules

Nursing homes in Madison run about $10,807 a month at the median. Around-the-clock home care usually costs more.
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253 assisted living communities in Madison

What assisted living looks like in Madison

Madison is a market of small licensed homes. 87% have 16 beds or fewer, against 65% nationally. The typical one has 4 beds.

Compare communities side by side
Tick Compare on the ones you like, then continue.
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Free local help worth saving

Madison, in Dane County, has about 278,001 residents. About 36,240 of them (13%) are 65 or older. The median household income is $78,050.

Source: US Census Bureau

National helplines, including the Eldercare Locator and 211, are listed on paying for care.

Veterans & surviving spouses: VA Aid & Attendance can help wartime veterans who qualify. How Aid & Attendance works →

Questions families ask

Is assisted living in Madison more expensive than the rest of Wisconsin?

Madison's median assisted living cost is about 2% higher than the Wisconsin state median.

Find Madison care options

Tell us what you need and your budget, and we will email you licensed options right away.

Find care options →

Reading up first? Assisted Living across Wisconsin → · Assisted Living cost across Wisconsin → · Adult Day Care vs Assisted Living →

Touring this week? Print our checklist: what to ask on a tour, what to notice, and the license paperwork to request. Or email it to yourself to have it on your phone.

Assisted Living in Madison: 2026 Costs & Licensed Providers · Page 8