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Living in
Madison.
About
Life in Madison
Madison is a community of 12,277 people in Indiana. The median household income is $61,183, median rent runs about $827 per month, and median home values are around $203,100. Unemployment is low at 3.8%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Madison at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
44.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
14.9%
Foreign-Born
1.4%
Broadband Internet
90.9%
of households
Population Growth
-0.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics1.4% foreign-born, most often from Japan
Who lives in Madison: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Madison, the largest foreign-born group is from Japan (50.0%), and 1.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
18.0%
of residents
65 and Older
20.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
31.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
36.6%
of households
Married Couples
39.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.29
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 23% below IN average
Rent, home values, and income in Madison
In Madison, rent runs 23% below the IN average, and home values are 7% below the IN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
32.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
14.6%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$1,343
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
62.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1963
median year built
Vacant Homes
13.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $242,894 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for IN
Unemployment in Madison
Unemployment in Jefferson County, which includes Madison, is close to the IN average.
Unemployment rate
Madison: Jefferson County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Jefferson County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Madison Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute19.4 min avg
How Madison residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Madison, most residents drive alone to work (83%), and 74% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 43 mi
Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF)
Small hub2.2M passengers boarded in 2025
- 44 mi
Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)
Medium hub4.4M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safety
Crime rates
Crime data not available
The FBI has no complete year of crime data between 2018 and 2025 for the Madison Police Department, so there's no reliable local crime rate to show for Madison.
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 6 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
48.3 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Jefferson County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Jefferson County, which includes Madison, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 6 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 4 | Tornado | None reported |
| 2023 | 6 | Hail | None reported |
| 2022 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | $200,000 |
| 2021 | 5 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 1 | Thunderstorm Wind | Not estimated |
| 2019 | 2 | Thunderstorm Wind | $10,000 |
| 2018 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $16,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Jefferson County, county-wide
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Oldham County, KY (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 25 miles from Madison) is typically good — 214 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
39
Good Days
214
per year
Moderate Days
28
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Oldham County, KY (25 mi away)
Climate86°F summers, 26°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Madison has warm summers (avg high 86°F) and cold winters (avg low 26°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
67°/43°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
86°/65°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
69°/46°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
45°/26°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
51.0"
Annual Snowfall
12.3"
Hot Days/Year
24
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
96
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
115
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42°F | 24°F | 3.47" |
| Feb | 47°F | 25°F | 3.15" |
| Mar | 57°F | 33°F | 4.47" |
| Apr | 68°F | 43°F | 5.54" |
| May | 77°F | 54°F | 5.37" |
| Jun | 84°F | 62°F | 4.97" |
| Jul | 88°F | 66°F | 4.81" |
| Aug | 87°F | 65°F | 4.23" |
| Sep | 81°F | 58°F | 3.53" |
| Oct | 70°F | 46°F | 3.63" |
| Nov | 57°F | 35°F | 3.61" |
| Dec | 47°F | 29°F | 4.20" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Madison
Madison has 2 hospitals, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
7.6%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Norton-king's Daughters' Health
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Madison State Hospital
Psychiatric · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Carroll County Memorial Hospital
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available · 13.4 mi away · Carrollton
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Madison
Madison's student/teacher ratio is 15.4:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 23.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
23.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: William Howard Taft National Historic Site, 54 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Madison
Madison has 5 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being William Howard Taft National Historic Site (54 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
William Howard Taft National Historic Site
National Historic Site
54 mi awayCamp Nelson National Monument
National Monument
79 mi awayAbraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park
National Historical Park
82 mi awayLincoln Boyhood National Memorial
National Memorial
97 mi awayDayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park
National Historical Park
99 mi awayPublic Libraries in Madison
Jefferson County Public Library
420 West Main Street, Madison
Cities Near Madison
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Madison?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Madison FAQ
Is Madison, Indiana affordable?⌄
Madison's median rent is $820/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $61,183/year. Median home value is $203,100.
What is the job market like in Madison, Indiana?⌄
Jefferson County, which includes Madison, has an unemployment rate of 3.7%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Madison, Indiana?⌄
The cost of living in Madison is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $820/month and median household income is $61,183/year. The median home value is $203,100. About 32% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Madison, Indiana?⌄
The average commute in Madison is 19 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from