The Town FilesMadison, Florida
City in Madison County · population 2,912 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $78,500
- Household income
- $30,673
- Jan low / Jul high
- 40° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 31.2
Madison is a city of 2,912 people in Madison County, Florida. The median home is worth $78,500, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks easier by car than 84% of Florida towns, quieter than 79% of Florida towns, better for cycling than 75% of Florida towns.
How Madison ranks
Percentile among Florida towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Florida towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Madison is worth $78,500, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $30,673, which is more affordable than 95% of Florida towns. Median rent is $887 a month. 39.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Madison | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $78,500 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $887 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $30,673 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 39.4% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Madison
| People | Madison | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.2 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.8% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 30.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.6% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 34.8% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 6.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.6% | — |
| Work from home | 1.1% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 38.6 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 72.6% | 92.4% |
Weather in Madison
July highs average 90.9°F and January lows 40.2°F. About 52.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 94 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 23 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Madison since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 19, 1988 about 1.2 miles from the town center and killed 4. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 5 deaths and 22 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 10, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on April 2, 2009.
Severe weather in Madison County since 1996
Madison County has been included in 34 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 9, 2026 | Tropical Storm | EM-3655: Hurricane Isaias |
| October 11, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4834: Hurricane Milton |
| October 7, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3622: Hurricane Milton |
| September 28, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4828: Hurricane Helene |
| September 24, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3615: Tropical Storm Helene |
Jobs and pay in Madison County
Madison County had 4,811 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,239 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Madison itself the ACS puts it at 1.2%.
Public schools in Madison
5 public schools with 1,876 students, about 18.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| MADISON COUNTY CENTRAL SCHOOL | PK-8 | 802 | 18.2 |
| MADISON COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 488 | 22.2 |
| MADISON CREATIVE ARTS ACADEMY INC (charter) | PK-8 | 390 | 16.3 |
| JAMES MADISON PREPARATORY HIGH SCHOOL (charter) | 9-12 | 196 | 16.3 |
| MADISON TAP PROGRAM | PK-PK | — | — |
Towns near Madison
- Quitman, GA23.3 mi · 4,064 people · home $110,700
- Perry, FL27.0 mi · 6,898 people · home $150,500
- Valdosta, GA27.4 mi · 55,378 people · home $182,800
- Monticello, FL27.7 mi · 2,589 people · home $211,000
- Live Oak, FL28.3 mi · 6,735 people · home $160,300
- Jasper, FL28.6 mi · 3,621 people · home $78,300
Madison questions
Is Madison, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Madison scores better for retirees than 27% of Florida towns and quieter than 79%. 11.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 31.2).
How much does a house cost in Madison?
The median owner-occupied home in Madison is valued at $78,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $30,673, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $887 a month.
What is the weather like in Madison?
July highs average 90.9°F and January lows 40.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.8 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Madison get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Madison since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 19, 1988. The typical Florida town has had 35.
- 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)