Population 17,329 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Madison County
Household size in Madison County
| Period | Madison County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.67 | 2.54 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.56 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.59 | 2.55 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.72 | 2.53 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.05 | −0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in Madison County average 2.72 people, about the same as the country as a whole (2.65). The typical household here is bigger than in Arkansas overall, where it has 2.53 people. Household size has crept up from 2.67 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. Only two of Arkansas' 75 counties have larger households.
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 | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.4 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.5 | 38.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.6 | 39.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.1 | 39.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.7 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Madison County is 42.1 years old, a bit older than the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 39.4 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. Residents skew youngest in the center and oldest in the southwest.
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 | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.1% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.3% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.1% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.2% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +3.0 pts | −0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in Madison County as they are nationally: 12.2%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share has risen 3.0 points since 2006–10, even as the national share fell.
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 | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.7% | 32.3% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 22.1% | 33.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.0% | 34.4% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 20.5% | 33.6% | 34.8% |
| Change | −4.2 pts | +1.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Madison County is largely a place of homeowners: only 20.5% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 57.4% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 4.2 points, even as the national share rose.
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 | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.2% | 13.4% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.3% | 13.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 16.9% | 14.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 15.9% | 13.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −5.2 pts | −0.3 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Madison County: 15.9% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy is down 5.2 points from 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 | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1978 | 1981 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1983 | 1983 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1984 | 1985 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1989 | 1988 | 1980 |
| Change | +12 | +6 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Madison County is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1989, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1978 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northwest, 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 | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $524 | $660 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $595 | $718 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $608 | $785 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $723 | $1,007 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$199 | +$346 | +$606 |
Rent in Madison County runs $723 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $199 a month since 2006–10, up 38%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 25.1% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. The priciest rents are in the north; the most affordable are in the southeast.
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 | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.6% | 20.6% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.6% | 21.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 14.2% | 23.8% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 13.7% | 26.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +0.2 pts | +5.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Madison County: 13.7% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. Madison County has a lower share of college graduates than the great majority of Arkansas counties.
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 | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 75.9% | 82.6% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 77.2% | 84.6% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 80.7% | 86.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 85.6% | 88.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +9.7 pts | +6.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in seven adults in Madison County never finished high school, more than nationally: 85.6% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. The share with a diploma has risen 9.7 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.1% | 7.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.3% | 8.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.3% | 5.2% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.3% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | +1.2 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 5.3%, unemployment in Madison County is close to the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment is up 1.2 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate fell. 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 | 2.72 | 42.1 | 12.2% | 20.5% | 15.9% | 1989 | $723 | 13.7% | 85.6% | 5.3% |
| Washington County | 2.62 | 34.6 | 11.1% | 44.4% | 8.5% | 1995 | $1,213 | 35.9% | 87.5% | 3.7% |
| Newton County | 2.21 | 49.9 | 7.7% | 23.5% | 22.7% | 1985 | $583 | 15.6% | 83.1% | 3.7% |
| Searcy County | 2.48 | 48.2 | 8.7% | 20.6% | 31.5% | 1983 | $621 | 15.2% | 83.9% | 4.3% |
| Cherokee County | 2.52 | 38.2 | 11.9% | 34.3% | 14.5% | 1988 | $834 | 28.9% | 88.6% | 5.3% |
| Izard County | 2.47 | 46.4 | 12.2% | 24.6% | 21.0% | 1984 | $760 | 20.1% | 87.3% | 7.0% |
| Wagoner County | 2.80 | 39.6 | 9.4% | 18.7% | 7.2% | 1995 | $1,211 | 28.0% | 92.4% | 4.2% |
| Tulsa County | 2.55 | 36.8 | 12.1% | 40.3% | 8.0% | 1981 | $1,305 | 33.7% | 89.5% | 5.5% |
| Sharp County | 2.63 | 45.4 | 10.8% | 21.2% | 24.7% | 1981 | $762 | 15.1% | 85.1% | 6.7% |
| Creek County | 2.57 | 40.5 | 10.7% | 25.6% | 10.5% | 1986 | $1,000 | 18.9% | 90.9% | 3.3% |
| Lawrence County | 2.38 | 39.4 | 11.5% | 33.4% | 13.4% | 1977 | $699 | 15.8% | 83.5% | 5.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Yates County, NY · Yancey County, NC · Charles Mix County, SD · Charles City County, VA · Chariton County, MO · Yankton County, SD · Ceiba Municipio, PR · Cedar County, NE · Cedar County, MO · Chickasaw County, IA
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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