What are the schools like in Madison, VA?

Madison is served primarily by Madison County Public Schools. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.7:1.

What is the median household income in Madison?

The median household income in Madison, VA is $42,404 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 10.6%.

What is the weather like in Madison, VA?

Madison has an average high temperature of 44.9°F in January and 87.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 45.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 15.5 inches.

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

Q: Is Madison, VA affordable or expensive?

Madison's cost of living index is 109, where 100 represents the national average. This means Madison is 9% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $359,100 and the median rent is $995 per month.

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

Madison has a violent crime rate of 37.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 663.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Madison, VA a Good Place to Live?

Madison is a small town of 383 in Virginia, with a median household income of $42,404 and a 10.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 109 (US average = 100), which is 9% above the national average.

Strengths: Madison stands out for solid school ratings (B-).

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. 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: 108.6

Madison's overall cost of living index is 108.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Madison costs roughly 9% more than the average American city.

Metric	Madison, VA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$359,100	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$995	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	44.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$42,404	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Madison's violent crime rate is 37.7 per 100,000 residents — 90% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

37.7 /100k

Property Crime

663.6 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Madison is served primarily by Madison County Public Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Madison, VA	National Avg
School District	Madison County Public Schools	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.7:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	16.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	84.0%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Madison sees average highs of 44.9°F in January and 87.1°F in July, with 45.0 inches of annual precipitation and 15.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Madison, VA
Average High — January	44.9°F
Average High — July	87.1°F
Annual Precipitation	45.0"
Annual Snowfall	15.5"

Demographics

Metric	Madison, VA	National Avg
Population	383	—
Median Age	41.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	10.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	28.9 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	78.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	11.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	22.2%	22.2%
65 and over	20.6%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Brightwood, VA 5 mi Stanardsville, VA 11 mi Orange, VA 12 mi Ruckersville, VA 12 mi Twin Lakes, VA 13 mi

ZIP Codes in Madison

Madison, VA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

22727

Madison vs Other Cities

Madison, VA vs Brightwood, VA Madison, VA vs Stanardsville, VA Madison, VA vs Orange, VA Madison, VA vs Ruckersville, VA Madison, VA vs Twin Lakes, VA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Madison, VA affordable or expensive?

Madison's cost of living index is 109, where 100 is the national average. That puts Madison roughly 9% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $359,100 and median rent is $995/month.

What is the crime rate in Madison, VA?

Madison's violent crime rate is 37.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 663.6 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 County Public Schools. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.7:1. 16.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Madison, VA a good place to live?

Madison, VA has a population of 383, a median household income of $42,404, and an unemployment rate of 10.6%. 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 44.9°F in January and 87.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 45.0 inches with about 15.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Madison?

Madison, VA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 22727.

What is the population of Madison?

The population of Madison, Virginia is 383 with a median age of 41.8. 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 109 (100 = US average), median home $359,100, median household income $42,404, crime index 19 (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.