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Living in
Madison.
About
Life in Madison
This is a prosperous bedroom community about 25 miles west of Manhattan that genuinely works as a place to settle, not just pass through. The commute to Manhattan via the historic Morris & Essex Line is manageable at roughly 27 minutes to Penn Station or Hoboken, and there's also a private commuter bus option if you prefer flexibility, which matters when you're weighing daily quality-of-life decisions. What keeps people here beyond just the numbers is the actual downtown.
Madison at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
38.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
3.2%
Foreign-Born
14.8%
Broadband Internet
95.6%
of households
Population Growth
-2.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics14.8% foreign-born, most often from Colombia
Who lives in Madison: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Madison, the largest foreign-born group is from Colombia (17.6%), and 8.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.2%
of residents
65 and Older
13.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
36.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
25.6%
of households
Married Couples
59.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.65
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 31% above NJ average
Rent, home values, and income in Madison
In Madison, rent runs 31% above the NJ average, and home values are 108% above the NJ average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
51.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
24.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
112.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Homeowners
63.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1961
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $1,018,993 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.8 pts below NJ average
Unemployment in Madison
Unemployment in Morris County, which includes Madison, is 0.8 percentage points lower than the NJ average.
Unemployment rate
Madison: Morris County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Morris County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Madison is about 3% of Morris County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Madison Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute27.6 min avg
How Madison residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Madison, most residents drive alone to work (51%), and 62% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 14 mi
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
Major hub23.5M 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 100% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Madison runs 100% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
0
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
200.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Madison Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Weather most common — 21 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
92.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Morris County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Morris County, which includes Madison, the most common type is winter weather, with 21 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 21 | Winter Weather | $5,000 |
| 2024 | 27 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2023 | 27 | Thunderstorm Wind | $100,000 |
| 2022 | 18 | Winter Weather | $1,000 |
| 2021 | 28 | Thunderstorm Wind | $10.0M |
| 2020 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $40,000 |
| 2019 | 31 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 19 | Winter Storm | None reported |
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
Morris County, county-wide
Madison is about 3% of Morris County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Morris County, which includes Madison, is typically good — 275 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
39
Good Days
275
per year
Moderate Days
48
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Morris County, county-wide
Madison is about 3% of Morris County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate84°F summers, 24°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Madison has warm summers (avg high 84°F) and cold winters (avg low 24°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
62°/41°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
84°/63°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
66°/45°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
42°/24°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
49.8"
Annual Snowfall
24.0"
Hot Days/Year
29
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
117
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
123
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40°F | 22°F | 3.53" |
| Feb | 42°F | 23°F | 2.96" |
| Mar | 50°F | 31°F | 4.19" |
| Apr | 62°F | 41°F | 4.03" |
| May | 72°F | 50°F | 4.05" |
| Jun | 82°F | 60°F | 4.77" |
| Jul | 86°F | 66°F | 4.68" |
| Aug | 85°F | 64°F | 4.94" |
| Sep | 78°F | 56°F | 4.64" |
| Oct | 66°F | 44°F | 4.58" |
| Nov | 54°F | 35°F | 3.60" |
| Dec | 44°F | 28°F | 4.43" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Madison
Uninsured
3.4%
of residents
No hospitals inside Madison's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Morristown Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.3 mi away · Morristown
Summit Oaks Hospital
Psychiatric · 4.2 mi away · Summit
Overlook Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.6 mi away · Summit
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.
Education11.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Madison
Madison's student/teacher ratio is 11.1:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 74.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
74.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Madison
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,533 students · in-state tuition $49,100 · 75% graduate · median earnings $66,065 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
New Jersey Institute of Technology
12.6 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 9,019 students · in-state tuition $21,162 · 75% graduate · median earnings $90,769 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 7,709 students · in-state tuition $18,112 · 72% graduate · median earnings $80,490 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 5,855 students · in-state tuition $5,631 · 22% graduate · median earnings $43,365 (10 yrs after entry)
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus
1.4 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 1,990 students · in-state tuition $39,454 · 68% graduate · median earnings $62,652 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 557 students · in-state tuition $37,763 · 57% graduate · median earnings $55,167 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 498 students · in-state tuition $27,352 · 44% graduate · median earnings $46,968 (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: Morristown National Historical Park, 6 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Madison
Madison has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Morristown National Historical Park (6 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Morristown National Historical Park
National Historical Park
6 mi awayThomas Edison National Historical Park
National Historical Park
10 mi awayPaterson Great Falls National Historical Park
National Historical Park
16 mi awayEllis Island Part of Statue of Liberty National Monument
Part of Statue of Liberty National Monument
20 mi awayStatue Of Liberty National Monument
National Monument
20 mi awayCastle Clinton National Monument
National Monument
21 mi awayGovernors Island National Monument
National Monument
21 mi awayNational Parks of New York Harbor
National Park Site
21 mi awayPublic Libraries in Madison
Madison Public Library
39 Keep 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, New Jersey affordable?⌄
Madison's median rent is $2,253/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $171,471/year. Median home value is $943,200.
Is Madison, New Jersey safe?⌄
Madison's violent crime rate was 0 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 201 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Madison, New Jersey?⌄
Morris County, which includes Madison, has an unemployment rate of 4.4%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Madison, New Jersey?⌄
The cost of living in Madison is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,253/month and median household income is $171,471/year. The median home value is $943,200. About 52% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Madison, New Jersey?⌄
The average commute in Madison is 28 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