The Town FilesMadison, Alabama
City in Madison County · population 56,933 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $398,800
- Household income
- $134,655
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 62
- Median age
- 37.3
Madison is a city of 56,933 people in Madison County, Alabama. The median home is worth $398,800, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks more upscale than 98% of Alabama towns, better for young professionals than 96% of Alabama towns, more vibrant than 94% of Alabama towns.
How Madison ranks
Percentile among Alabama towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Alabama towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Madison is worth $398,800, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $134,655, which is more affordable than 45% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $1,453 a month. 74.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Madison | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $398,800 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $1,453 | $834 |
| Median household income | $134,655 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 74.0% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 2001 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Madison
| People | Madison | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.3 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.7% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 64.5% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.3% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 12.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.7% | — |
| Work from home | 19.2% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 20.2 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.7% | 86.7% |
Weather in Madison
July highs average 91.5°F and January lows 33.1°F. About 54.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.4 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 62 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 56 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
62 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Madison since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 22 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on April 3, 1974 about 6.2 miles from the town center and killed 9. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 72 deaths and 1,067 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 27, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 168 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on April 10, 2009.
Severe weather in Madison County since 1996
Madison County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 26, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3618: Hurricane Helene |
| September 14, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3545: Hurricane Sally |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4503: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3472: Covid-19 |
| April 17, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4426: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Madison County
Madison County had 229,807 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $77,051 a year. Unemployment was 2% in 2023; in Madison itself the ACS puts it at 2.2%.
Public schools in Madison
14 public schools with 13,330 students, about 17.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| James Clemens High School | 9-12 | 2,121 | 18.1 |
| Bob Jones High School | 9-12 | 1,968 | 18.1 |
| Liberty Middle School | 6-8 | 1,175 | 17.0 |
| Discovery Middle School | 6-8 | 1,069 | 16.2 |
| MidTown Elementary School | PK-5 | 1,030 | 17.2 |
| Mill Creek Elementary School | PK-5 | 937 | 15.9 |
| Heritage Elementary School | K-5 | 849 | 16.6 |
| Columbia Elementary School | PK-5 | 776 | 16.2 |
| Rainbow Elementary School | PK-5 | 767 | 16.7 |
| Journey Middle School | 6-8 | 714 | 18.8 |
| Legacy Elementary School | PK-5 | 594 | 18.0 |
| Horizon Elementary School | PK-5 | 568 | 15.4 |
Towns near Madison
- Huntsville, AL4.9 mi · 215,006 people · home $293,600
- Triana, AL8.5 mi · 2,890 people · home $278,200
- Harvest, AL10.0 mi · 5,893 people · home $281,300
- Athens, AL11.7 mi · 25,406 people · home $270,000
- Priceville, AL14.2 mi · 3,512 people · home $266,400
- Meridianville, AL15.3 mi · 8,209 people · home $291,900
- Decatur, AL16.1 mi · 57,938 people · home $210,200
- Moores Mill, AL16.9 mi · 6,729 people · home $274,000
Madison questions
Is Madison, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Madison scores better for retirees than 48% of Alabama towns and quieter than 7%. 12.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.3).
How much does a house cost in Madison?
The median owner-occupied home in Madison is valued at $398,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $134,655, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $1,453 a month.
What is the weather like in Madison?
July highs average 91.5°F and January lows 33.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 54.3 inches of precipitation a year and 2.4 inches of snow.
Does Madison get tornadoes?
62 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Madison since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on April 3, 1974. The typical Alabama town has had 30.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)