Madison is a small town of 917 in Kansas, with a median household income of $46,434
and a 2.2% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 82 (US average = 100), which is
18% below the national average.
Strengths:
Madison stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A-), 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: 81.6
Madison's overall cost of living index is 81.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Madison costs roughly 18% less than the average American city.
Metric
Madison, KS
National Avg
Median Home Value
$48,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$592
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
75.7%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$46,434
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Madison's violent crime rate is 234.0 per 100,000 residents
— 38% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
234.0 /100k
Property Crime
1086.6 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Madison is served primarily by Madison-Virgil.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.3:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Madison, KS
National Avg
School District
Madison-Virgil
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
9.3:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
21.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
87.0%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Madison sees average highs of 41.3°F in January
and 90.0°F in July,
with 38.5 inches of annual precipitation
and 10.9 inches of snow per year.
Madison's cost of living index is 82, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Madison roughly 18% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $48,800 and median rent is $592/month.
Madison's violent crime rate is 234.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1086.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Madison are operated by Madison-Virgil.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.3:1. 21.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Madison, KS has a population of 917, a median household income of $46,434, and an unemployment rate of 2.2%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Madison averages 41.3°F in January and 90.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.5 inches
with about 10.9 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Madison, KS is covered by 1 ZIP code: 66860.
The population of Madison, Kansas is 917 with a median age of 38.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Madison: cost of living index 82 (100 = US average), median home $48,800, median household income $46,434, crime index 58 (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.
