What are the schools like in Madison, MN?

Madison is served primarily by Lac qui Parle Valley Schools. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.9:1.

What is the median household income in Madison?

The median household income in Madison, MN is $49,063 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 0.6%.

What is the weather like in Madison, MN?

Madison has an average high temperature of 21.7°F in January and 82.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 25.6 inches and annual snowfall averages 46.9 inches.

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

Q: Is Madison, MN affordable or expensive?

Madison's cost of living index is 92, where 100 represents the national average. This means Madison is 8% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $88,900 and the median rent is $879 per month.

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

Madison has a violent crime rate of 15.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 60.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Madison, MN a Good Place to Live?

Madison is a small town of 1,566 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $49,063 and a 0.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is 8% below the national average.

Strengths: Madison stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), 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: 91.9

Madison's overall cost of living index is 91.9, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Madison costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.

Metric	Madison, MN	National Avg
Median Home Value	$88,900	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$879	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	72.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$49,063	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Madison's violent crime rate is 15.1 per 100,000 residents — 96% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

15.1 /100k

Property Crime

60.4 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Madison is served primarily by Lac qui Parle Valley Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Madison, MN	National Avg
School District	Lac qui Parle Valley Schools	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	18.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	95.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Madison sees average highs of 21.7°F in January and 82.5°F in July, with 25.6 inches of annual precipitation and 46.9 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Madison, MN
Average High — January	21.7°F
Average High — July	82.5°F
Annual Precipitation	25.6"
Annual Snowfall	46.9"

Demographics

Metric	Madison, MN	National Avg
Population	1,566	—
Median Age	56.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	0.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	16.0 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	97.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.2%	18.9%
Asian	1.7%	6.3%
Under 18	17.2%	22.2%
65 and over	35.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Dawson, MN 9 mi Bellingham, MN 10 mi Louisburg, MN 11 mi Marietta, MN 11 mi Nassau, MN 13 mi

ZIP Codes in Madison

Madison, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code:

56256

Madison vs Other Cities

Madison, MN vs Dawson, MN Madison, MN vs Bellingham, MN Madison, MN vs Louisburg, MN Madison, MN vs Marietta, MN Madison, MN vs Nassau, MN

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Madison, MN affordable or expensive?

Madison's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average. That makes Madison roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $88,900 and median rent is $879/month.

What is the crime rate in Madison, MN?

Madison's violent crime rate is 15.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 60.4 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 Lac qui Parle Valley Schools. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.9:1. 18.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Madison, MN a good place to live?

Madison, MN has a population of 1,566, a median household income of $49,063, and an unemployment rate of 0.6%. 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.

What is the weather like in Madison?

Madison averages 21.7°F in January and 82.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 25.6 inches with about 46.9 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Madison?

Madison, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 56256.

What is the population of Madison?

The population of Madison, Minnesota is 1,566 with a median age of 56.5. 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 92 (100 = US average), median home $88,900, median household income $49,063, crime index 4 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. 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.