What it's like to live in Madison
Madison is a small city in Mississippi with unemployment below the national average, household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Madison deals with rent well above the national average, hot summers, above-average rainfall, and fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city.
The good
- Low unemployment
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Highly educated workforce
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- Hot summers
- Above-average rainfall
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Madison compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Madison
Based on Madison's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,706
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $74,120 a year
- 50% of Madison renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$70,580
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $35,290
- Homes cost 3.0× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 31% above US
$1,853/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,853 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices run above average, with a median around $352,900. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $352,900 · 50% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 40% below US
2.6% unemployment
Unemployment here is 2.6%, well below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 94% below US
21 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 410/100k · Madison Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
24 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 24.2 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 14% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 92°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 39°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 78% above US
64% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
6 public schools inside the boundary
There are 6 public schools inside the boundary and 3 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument (10 miles away). There are 4 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Madison's strongest points are unemployment below the national average and household incomes running above the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and hot summers. A year of median rent ($1,853/mo) equals 19% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit job seekers, anyone prioritizing low crime, and college-educated professionals. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget.
Other places near Madison
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