The Town FilesMadison, Illinois
City in Madison County · population 3,171 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $58,900
- Household income
- $49,326
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 13 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 48
- Median age
- 44.3
Madison is a city of 3,171 people in Madison County, Illinois. The median home is worth $58,900, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 91% of Illinois towns, hipper than 90% of Illinois towns, more walkable than 89% of Illinois towns.
- #4 in 25 Small Towns in Illinois With the Cheapest Homes
- #6 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Illinois
- #16 in 25 Small Towns in Illinois With the Mildest Winters
- #25 in The 25 Most Walkable Small Towns in Illinois
- #25 in The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Illinois
- #27 in 50 Small Towns in America With the Cheapest Homes
How Madison ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Madison is worth $58,900, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.2 times the median household income of $49,326, which is more affordable than 98% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,014 a month. 50.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Madison | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $58,900 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,014 | $960 |
| Median household income | $49,326 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.2× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 50.0% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1960 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Madison
| People | Madison | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.3 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.0% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9.1% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.4% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 4.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.8% | — |
| Work from home | 1.8% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 18.3 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.1% | 90.4% |
Weather in Madison
July highs average 89.0°F and January lows 24.1°F. About 40.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 12.9 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 46 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 98 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
48 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Madison since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 22 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on April 22, 2011 about 6.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 25 deaths and 510 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 16, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 185 times; the largest was 3.75 inches on March 14, 2024.
Severe weather in Madison County since 1996
Madison County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| December 13, 2021 | Tornado | EM-3577: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| September 19, 2019 | Flood | DR-4461: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| June 24, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1771: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Madison County
Madison County had 105,166 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,153 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Madison itself the ACS puts it at 16%.
Public schools in Madison
4 public schools with 603 students, about 10.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bernard Long Elem Sch | PK-5 | 348 | 11.6 |
| Madison Senior High School | 9-12 | 139 | 7.0 |
| Madison Jr High School | 6-8 | 116 | 14.5 |
| Madison Student Support Center | 7-12 | — | — |
Towns near Madison
- Granite City, IL3.2 mi · 27,549 people · home $104,300
- Pontoon Beach, IL3.4 mi · 5,876 people · home $145,100
- Washington Park, IL4.0 mi · 2,592 people · home $37,500
- East St. Louis, IL5.1 mi · 18,469 people · home $52,600
- Collinsville, IL5.1 mi · 24,366 people · home $163,600
- Caseyville, IL5.4 mi · 4,400 people · home $96,800
- Glasgow Village, MO7.2 mi · 4,584 people · home $69,000
- Maryville, IL7.8 mi · 8,221 people · home $261,800
Madison questions
Is Madison, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Madison scores better for retirees than 8% of Illinois towns and quieter than 24%. 14.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.3).
How much does a house cost in Madison?
The median owner-occupied home in Madison is valued at $58,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,326, so homes cost about 1.2 times income. Median rent is $1,014 a month.
What is the weather like in Madison?
July highs average 89.0°F and January lows 24.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.8 inches of precipitation a year and 12.9 inches of snow.
Does Madison get tornadoes?
48 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Madison since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on April 22, 2011. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- 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)