Population 16,926 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Madison County
Household size in Madison County
| Period | Madison County | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.67 | 2.51 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.52 | 2.56 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.48 | 2.55 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.57 | 2.52 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.10 | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
The average household in Madison County has 2.57 people, a bit under the U.S. average of 2.65. Household size has dropped from 2.67 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Among Iowa's 99 counties, though, only eight 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 | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.8 | 36.2 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.6 | 36.7 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.1 | 37.2 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.8 | 37.6 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.0 | +1.4 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Madison County are younger than 40.8 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. The population here is older than in the Des Moines area overall, where the median age is 37.6. The median age has climbed from 39.8 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.4% | 10.2% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.5% | 11.1% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.1% | 10.9% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.3% | 11.2% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.9 pts | +0.9 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in ten households in Madison County (10.3%), a little below the national share of 11.6%. The Des Moines area as a whole looks much the same. The single-parent share has edged up 0.9 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 | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.5% | 27.3% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 24.2% | 29.3% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 21.6% | 30.3% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 19.9% | 30.5% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.3 pts | +3.2 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Madison County is largely a place of homeowners: only 19.9% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. More than a third of owners (36.9%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. The renter share has edged up 1.3 points since 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 | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.9% | 7.7% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.7% | 7.2% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.9% | 7.2% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.4% | 7.0% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | −4.6 pts | −0.7 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Madison County than nationally: 6.4%, against 9.6% for the U.S. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 4.6 points, as it has nationally. Of Iowa's 99 counties, only six have a lower vacancy rate.
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 | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1966 | 1976 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1970 | 1977 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1974 | 1979 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1977 | 1983 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | +11 | +7 | +6 | +6 |
Homes in Madison County are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1977, versus 1980 nationally. Homes here are older than in the wider Des Moines area, where the median home dates to 1983. Newer construction is concentrated in the northeast, while the southeast has the oldest housing. Few Iowa counties have newer homes: only eight of 99.
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 | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $718 | $808 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $791 | $899 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $847 | $986 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,076 | $1,210 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$358 | +$402 | +$351 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Madison County costs $1,076 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $358 a month from 2006–10, a 50% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 26.5% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Rents run highest in the center and lowest in the east.
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 | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.5% | 33.6% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 22.3% | 35.5% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.8% | 37.1% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 27.0% | 40.3% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.5 pts | +6.6 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
More than a quarter of adults 25 and older in Madison County (27.0%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 8.5 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the east and least in the center.
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 | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 93.1% | 91.9% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.2% | 92.8% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.3% | 92.7% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.7% | 92.9% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.6 pts | +1.0 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Madison County: 96.7% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 3.6 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only four of Iowa's 99 counties have 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 | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.2% | 4.8% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.7% | 5.4% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.7% | 3.8% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.3% | 4.5% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.9 pts | −0.3 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Madison County has been strong: just 3.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment is down 0.9 points from 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current 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 | 2.57 | 40.8 | 10.3% | 19.9% | 6.4% | 1977 | $1,076 | 27.0% | 96.7% | 3.3% |
| Warren County | 2.56 | 39.2 | 11.0% | 17.7% | 6.0% | 1986 | $1,078 | 33.8% | 96.7% | 3.5% |
| Adair County | 2.26 | 43.1 | 6.6% | 26.1% | 9.1% | 1957 | $855 | 19.6% | 94.7% | 3.6% |
| Marion County | 2.43 | 40.2 | 7.1% | 22.3% | 8.4% | 1976 | $891 | 33.1% | 94.8% | 2.3% |
| Cass County | 2.23 | 45.1 | 9.9% | 28.4% | 9.5% | 1950 | $797 | 21.7% | 94.4% | 1.5% |
| Mahaska County | 2.45 | 39.5 | 9.9% | 32.0% | 9.7% | 1963 | $821 | 24.7% | 93.5% | 3.7% |
| Pottawattamie County | 2.45 | 41.1 | 11.3% | 30.1% | 7.3% | 1967 | $1,056 | 23.9% | 90.6% | 3.7% |
| Keokuk County | 2.45 | 42.9 | 9.7% | 18.7% | 11.6% | 1952 | $817 | 16.9% | 94.3% | 4.3% |
| Douglas County | 2.55 | 36.7 | 11.6% | 38.5% | 6.3% | 1977 | $1,396 | 42.3% | 91.2% | 4.1% |
| Washington County | 2.52 | 40.9 | 9.0% | 26.0% | 7.7% | 1966 | $877 | 26.4% | 93.4% | 2.2% |
| Dodge County | 2.43 | 38.9 | 11.1% | 33.1% | 9.6% | 1964 | $1,066 | 22.0% | 88.1% | 3.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Wilkes County, GA · Cannon County, TN · Carbon County, MT · Carbon County, UT · Carbon County, WY · Caribou County, ID · Carroll County, IA · Carroll County, IL · Carroll County, IN · Carroll County, KY
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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