What are the schools like in Madison, AL?

Madison is served primarily by Madison City. The district operates 7 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 16.8:1.

What is the median household income in Madison?

The median household income in Madison, AL is $118,132 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.0%.

What is the weather like in Madison, AL?

Madison has an average high temperature of 52.3°F in January and 91.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 59.2 inches and annual snowfall averages 2.4 inches.

Madison, AL Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Madison, AL affordable or expensive?

Madison's cost of living index is 98, where 100 represents the national average. This means Madison is 2% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $327,100 and the median rent is $1,201 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Madison, AL?

Madison has a violent crime rate of 211.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1327.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Madison, AL a Good Place to Live?

Madison is a mid-sized city of 56,967 in Alabama, with a median household income of $118,132 and a 3.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 98 (US average = 100), which is 2% below the national average.

Strengths: Madison stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Madison is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Madison city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 97.7

Madison's overall cost of living index is 97.7, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Madison costs roughly 2% less than the average American city.

Metric	Madison, AL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$327,100	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,201	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	74.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$118,132	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Madison's violent crime rate is 211.0 per 100,000 residents — 44% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

211.0 /100k

Property Crime

1327.2 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Madison is served primarily by Madison City. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.8:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Madison, AL	National Avg
School District	Madison City	—
Elementary Schools	7	—
Middle Schools	3	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	16.8:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	64.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	97.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Madison sees average highs of 52.3°F in January and 91.5°F in July, with 59.2 inches of annual precipitation and 2.4 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Madison, AL
Average High — January	52.3°F
Average High — July	91.5°F
Annual Precipitation	59.2"
Annual Snowfall	2.4"

Demographics

Metric	Madison, AL	National Avg
Population	56,967	—
Median Age	39.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	20.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	71.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	14.8%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.3%	18.9%
Asian	7.3%	6.3%
Under 18	27.7%	22.2%
65 and over	12.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Redstone Arsenal, AL 6 mi Triana, AL 9 mi Mooresville, AL 9 mi Harvest, AL 10 mi Athens, AL 12 mi

ZIP Codes in Madison

Madison, AL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

35758

Madison vs Other Cities

Madison, AL vs Redstone Arsenal, AL Madison, AL vs Triana, AL Madison, AL vs Mooresville, AL Madison, AL vs Harvest, AL Madison, AL vs Athens, AL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Madison, AL affordable or expensive?

Madison's cost of living index is 98, where 100 is the national average. That makes Madison roughly 2% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $327,100 and median rent is $1,201/month.

What is the crime rate in Madison, AL?

Madison's violent crime rate is 211.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1327.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Madison?

Public schools in Madison are operated by Madison City. The district has 7 elementary, 3 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.8:1. 64.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Madison, AL a good place to live?

Madison, AL has a population of 56,967, a median household income of $118,132, and an unemployment rate of 3.0%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Madison?

Madison averages 52.3°F in January and 91.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 59.2 inches with about 2.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Madison?

Madison, AL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 35758.

What is the population of Madison?

The population of Madison, Alabama is 56,967 with a median age of 39.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Madison?

Key numbers for living in Madison: cost of living index 98 (100 = US average), median home $327,100, median household income $118,132, crime index 59 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Madison side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.