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Living in
Madison Heights.
Madison Heights is an unincorporated community in Amherst County, VA. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Madison Heights
Madison Heights is a community of 10,398 people in Virginia. The median household income is $60,215, median rent runs about $871 per month, and median home values are around $191,300. Unemployment is low at 3.5%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Madison Heights at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
44.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
10.5%
Foreign-Born
0.5%
Broadband Internet
86.0%
of households
Population Growth
-10.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics0.5% foreign-born, most often from Philippines
Who lives in Madison Heights: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Madison Heights, the largest foreign-born group is from Philippines (56.4%), and 0.5% of residents speak Arabic at home.
Under 18
18.4%
of residents
65 and Older
21.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
19.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
37.1%
of households
Married Couples
39.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.21
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 45% below VA average
Rent, home values, and income in Madison Heights
In Madison Heights, rent runs 45% below the VA average, and home values are 50% below the VA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
41.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
24.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
89.4
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$810
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
71.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1972
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $246,543 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for VA
Unemployment in Madison Heights
Unemployment in Amherst County, which includes Madison Heights, is close to the VA average.
Unemployment rate
Madison Heights: Amherst County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Amherst County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Madison Heights Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute24.2 min avg
How Madison Heights residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Madison Heights, most residents drive alone to work (82%), and 79% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 8 mi
Lynchburg Regional Airport - Preston Glenn Field (LYH)
Regional airport · few flights72k passengers boarded in 2025
- 99 mi
Richmond International Airport (RIC)
Medium hub2.5M passengers boarded in 2025
- 139 mi
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Major hub13.9M 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 26% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Amherst County Sheriff's Office, which covers Madison Heights, runs 26% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
242.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
805.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Amherst County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersWinter Weather most common — 27 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very Low
21.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Amherst County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Amherst County, which includes Madison Heights, the most common type is winter weather, with 27 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 27 | Winter Weather | $50,000 |
| 2024 | 20 | Winter Weather | $46,500 |
| 2023 | 21 | Winter Weather | $39,000 |
| 2022 | 22 | Winter Weather | $71,500 |
| 2021 | 21 | Winter Storm | $55,600 |
| 2020 | 17 | Frost/Freeze | $97,380 |
| 2019 | 36 | Winter Weather | $72,500 |
| 2018 | 46 | Winter Storm | $4.5M |
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
Amherst County, county-wide
Air Quality30 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Lynchburg city, VA (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 5 miles from Madison Heights) is typically good — 92 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
30
Good Days
92
per year
Moderate Days
16
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Lynchburg city, VA (5 mi away)
Climate84°F summers, 26°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Madison Heights has warm summers (avg high 84°F) and cold winters (avg low 26°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
67°/42°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
84°/63°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
68°/44°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
48°/26°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
43.6"
Annual Snowfall
12.4"
Hot Days/Year
20
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
119
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
119
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 46°F | 25°F | 3.38" |
| Feb | 50°F | 26°F | 2.85" |
| Mar | 58°F | 33°F | 3.66" |
| Apr | 68°F | 41°F | 3.64" |
| May | 75°F | 51°F | 4.18" |
| Jun | 82°F | 60°F | 3.98" |
| Jul | 85°F | 65°F | 4.07" |
| Aug | 84°F | 63°F | 3.63" |
| Sep | 78°F | 56°F | 3.93" |
| Oct | 69°F | 44°F | 3.36" |
| Nov | 59°F | 33°F | 3.17" |
| Dec | 49°F | 28°F | 3.76" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Madison Heights
Uninsured
7.1%
of residents
No hospitals inside Madison Heights's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Centra Health - Lynchburg Gen Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.7 mi away · Lynchburg
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.
Education13.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Madison Heights
Madison Heights's student/teacher ratio is 13.2:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 17.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
17.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Madison Heights (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 50,012 students · in-state tuition $23,171 · 47% graduate · median earnings $46,945 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,577 students · in-state tuition $38,150 · 64% graduate · median earnings $57,425 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 658 students · in-state tuition $31,590 · 52% graduate · median earnings $53,121 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 2-year · 219 students · in-state tuition $13,430 · 84% graduate · median earnings $57,204 (10 yrs after entry)
Virginia University of Lynchburg
3 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 125 students · in-state tuition $11,360 · 59% graduate · median earnings $31,749 (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: Appomattox Court House National Historical Park, 18 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Madison Heights
Madison Heights has 7 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Appomattox Court House National Historical Park (18 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Appomattox Court House National Historical Park
National Historical Park
18 mi awayBooker T Washington National Monument
National Monument
40 mi awayGreen Springs
National Park Site
66 mi awayShenandoah National Park
National Park
82 mi awayPetersburg National Battlefield
National Battlefield
92 mi awayMaggie L Walker National Historic Site
National Historic Site
93 mi awayGuilford Courthouse National Military Park
National Military Park
98 mi awayPublic Libraries in Madison Heights
Madison Heights Library
200 River James Shopping Center, Madison Heights
Cities Near Madison Heights
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Madison Heights?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Madison Heights FAQ
Is Madison Heights, Virginia affordable?⌄
Madison Heights's median rent is $871/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $60,215/year. Median home value is $191,300.
Is Madison Heights, Virginia safe?⌄
Madison Heights is policed by the Amherst County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 243 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 805 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Madison Heights, Virginia?⌄
Amherst County, which includes Madison Heights, has an unemployment rate of 3.5%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Madison Heights, Virginia?⌄
The cost of living in Madison Heights is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $871/month and median household income is $60,215/year. The median home value is $191,300. About 41% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Madison Heights, Virginia?⌄
The average commute in Madison Heights 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