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Living in
Madison.
About
Life in Madison
Madison offers a genuinely comfortable suburban lifestyle if you're willing to accept Mississippi's climate and car-dependent infrastructure. The unemployment rate sits at just 2.5%, and with 65.7% of residents holding college degrees, you're in an educated community. That said, this is still the Deep South: summers are hot and humid, and you'll absolutely need a car—your average commute is nearly 25 minutes, and there's no meaningful public transit.
Madison at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
4.8%
Foreign-Born
6.0%
Broadband Internet
97.3%
of households
Population Growth
+3.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics6.0% foreign-born, most often from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan
Who lives in Madison: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Madison, the largest foreign-born group is from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (30.2%), and 2.0% of residents speak Chinese at home.
Under 18
25.6%
of residents
65 and Older
16.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
35.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
20.9%
of households
Married Couples
68.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.82
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 94% above MS average
Rent, home values, and income in Madison
In Madison, rent runs 94% above the MS average, and home values are 108% above the MS average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
49.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
18.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
89.0
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,569
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
94.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1997
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $418,521 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.2 pts below MS average
Unemployment in Madison
Unemployment in Madison is 1.2 percentage points lower than the MS average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Madison Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute24.2 min avg
How Madison residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Madison, most residents drive alone to work (79%), and 75% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 11 mi
Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (JAN)
Small hub600k 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.
Safetyviolent crime 94% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Madison runs 94% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
21.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
409.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Madison Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 12 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
82.1 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Madison County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Madison County, which includes Madison, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 12 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $64,000 |
| 2024 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.4M |
| 2023 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $2.1M |
| 2022 | 23 | Thunderstorm Wind | $3.8M |
| 2021 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $481,000 |
| 2020 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.8M |
| 2019 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $292,000 |
| 2018 | 30 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.1M |
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.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Madison County, county-wide
Air Quality52 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Hinds County, MS (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 24 miles from Madison) is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
52
Good Days
167
per year
Moderate Days
198
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Hinds County, MS (24 mi away)
Climate92°F summers, 39°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Madison has hot summers (avg high 92°F) and mild winters (avg low 39°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
77°/55°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
92°/72°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
78°/56°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
60°/39°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
61.0"
Annual Snowfall
1.0"
Hot Days/Year
83
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
32
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
118
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 57°F | 38°F | 5.09" |
| Feb | 62°F | 41°F | 4.36" |
| Mar | 70°F | 48°F | 4.83" |
| Apr | 77°F | 55°F | 5.28" |
| May | 84°F | 63°F | 3.94" |
| Jun | 90°F | 71°F | 3.92" |
| Jul | 92°F | 73°F | 4.65" |
| Aug | 92°F | 73°F | 3.44" |
| Sep | 88°F | 68°F | 3.34" |
| Oct | 79°F | 56°F | 3.57" |
| Nov | 67°F | 45°F | 4.20" |
| Dec | 60°F | 40°F | 4.71" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Madison
Uninsured
5.3%
of residents
No hospitals inside Madison's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Merit Health Madison
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8 mi away · Canton
St Dominic-jackson Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.9 mi away · Jackson
Brentwood Behavioral Healthcare of Ms
Psychiatric · ER available · 9.9 mi away · Flowood
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.
Education13.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Madison
Madison's student/teacher ratio is 13.1:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 64.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
64.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Madison (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 4,600 students · in-state tuition $9,635 · 40% graduate · median earnings $42,075 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,471 students · in-state tuition $30,400 · 45% graduate · median earnings $50,101 (10 yrs after entry)
Strayer University-Mississippi
12.4 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 4-year · 882 students · in-state tuition $13,920 · 8% graduate · median earnings $44,016 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 639 students · in-state tuition $12,628 · 35% graduate · median earnings $41,624 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 549 students · in-state tuition $45,570 · 56% graduate · median earnings $65,503 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument, 10 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Madison
Madison has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument (10 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument
National Monument
10 mi awayVicksburg National Military Park
National Military Park
43 mi awayPoverty Point National Monument
National Monument
75 mi awayNatchez National Historical Park
National Historical Park
98 mi awayPublic Libraries in Madison
Rebecca Baine Rigby Library
994 Madison Avenue, 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, Mississippi affordable?⌄
Madison's median rent is $1,853/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $119,338/year. Median home value is $352,900.
Is Madison, Mississippi safe?⌄
Madison's violent crime rate was 21 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 410 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Madison, Mississippi?⌄
Madison has an unemployment rate of 2.6%, which is strong — well below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Madison, Mississippi?⌄
The cost of living in Madison is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,853/month and median household income is $119,338/year. The median home value is $352,900. About 50% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Madison, Mississippi?⌄
The average commute in Madison is 24 minutes, which is about 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