Population 405,718 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Madison County
Household size in Madison County
| Period | Madison County | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.55 | 2.55 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.52 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.43 | 2.58 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.46 | 2.56 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.09 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in Madison County run small, averaging 2.46 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Household size has dropped from 2.55 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the north.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Madison County
| Period | Madison County | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.9 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 38.9 | 39.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 39.6 | 40.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.5 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.6 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Madison County are younger than 39.5 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 37.9, as it has nationally. The youngest areas are in the west, the oldest in the southeast.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Madison County
| Period | Madison County | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.7% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.5% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.3% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.0% | 12.2% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit less common in Madison County than nationally: 10.0%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share has edged down 0.7 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Madison County has a lower share of single-parent households than at least four in five Alabama counties.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Madison County
Renters in Madison County
| Period | Madison County | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 29.6% | 28.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 31.0% | 30.8% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 33.2% | 31.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 31.7% | 29.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.1 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Nearly a third of households in Madison County rent their homes (31.7%), a little below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. Nearly four in ten owners (38.8%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the northeast. The renter share is up 2.1 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Madison County
| Period | Madison County | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.6% | 14.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.3% | 14.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.8% | 15.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.3% | 13.5% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.3 pts | −0.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Madison County is close to the national rate: 8.3% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. The rate is lower than in Alabama as a whole (13.5%). Vacancy has fallen 2.3 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Madison County
| Period | Madison County | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1985 | 1980 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1986 | 1982 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1988 | 1983 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1992 | 1986 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +6 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Madison County is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1992, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1985 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the southwest, the oldest in the center.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Madison County
| Period | Madison County | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $810 | $716 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $956 | $785 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,008 | $858 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,390 | $1,091 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$580 | +$375 | +$606 |
The median renter in Madison County pays $1,390 a month for rent and utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Even so, rents here are higher than in Alabama overall ($1,091). Rent has climbed $580 a month since 2006–10, up 72%, faster than rents rose nationally. Only one other Alabama county has higher rents.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Madison County
Bachelor's degrees in Madison County
| Period | Madison County | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.8% | 23.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 39.0% | 24.3% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 42.7% | 26.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 45.9% | 29.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.1 pts | +5.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Madison County: 45.9% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. The share with a degree has risen 8.1 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only one other Alabama county has a higher share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Madison County
| Period | Madison County | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.1% | 82.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.3% | 84.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.8% | 86.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.7% | 88.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.5 pts | +6.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Madison County is above the national rate: 92.7% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 4.5 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Only one other Alabama county has a higher share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Madison County
| Period | Madison County | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.7% | 8.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.4% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.1% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.6% | 4.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.1 pts | −3.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Madison County runs below the national rate: 3.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment has fallen 4.1 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Madison County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison County | 2.46 | 39.5 | 10.0% | 31.7% | 8.3% | 1992 | $1,390 | 45.9% | 92.7% | 3.6% |
| Limestone County | 2.76 | 40.2 | 8.8% | 22.4% | 7.7% | 1999 | $1,308 | 34.7% | 87.9% | 3.0% |
| Jackson County | 2.45 | 43.6 | 11.3% | 24.9% | 12.1% | 1985 | $757 | 16.0% | 82.6% | 4.3% |
| Lauderdale County | 2.39 | 41.1 | 8.8% | 31.1% | 12.3% | 1982 | $882 | 29.7% | 90.1% | 3.7% |
| Colbert County | 2.41 | 42.9 | 12.7% | 28.7% | 13.8% | 1979 | $863 | 22.6% | 86.9% | 2.9% |
| Dade County | 2.51 | 43.4 | 8.1% | 20.0% | 17.1% | 1987 | $877 | 18.0% | 88.2% | 3.9% |
| Walker County | 2.59 | 42.3 | 10.7% | 22.8% | 11.7% | 1980 | $944 | 21.0% | 87.0% | 3.8% |
| Tishomingo County | 2.12 | 44.0 | 10.0% | 20.5% | 17.6% | 1983 | $743 | 19.2% | 85.0% | 3.4% |
| Whitfield County | 2.88 | 36.9 | 14.4% | 33.0% | 8.4% | 1985 | $1,025 | 20.5% | 74.5% | 4.7% |
| Murray County | 2.73 | 39.2 | 15.0% | 26.2% | 7.5% | 1993 | $892 | 15.8% | 78.6% | 4.3% |
| Prentiss County | 2.55 | 38.4 | 13.2% | 22.5% | 14.9% | 1982 | $648 | 20.0% | 83.7% | 3.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Thurston County, WA · Cumberland County, ME · Dakota County, MN · East Baton Rouge Parish, LA · Greene County, MO · Santa Barbara County, CA · Solano County, CA · St. Louis City, MO · St. Lucie County, FL · Allen County, IN
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Madison County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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