Population 21,867 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Madison County
Household size in Madison County
| Period | Madison County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.39 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.39 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.42 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.57 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.18 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Madison County run a little small, averaging 2.57 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.39, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in the northeast and smallest in the southwest.
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 | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.6 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.2 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 44.5 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 45.4 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.9 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
Madison County skews older: half of its residents are older than 45.4, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 41.6 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 | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.1% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.6% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.1% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.7% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.6 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in ten households in Madison County (9.7%), a little below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged up 0.6 points, 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 | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.2% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 27.3% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 25.9% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 22.5% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 22.5% of households in Madison County rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. About six in ten owners (59.1%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the east; owners are most common in the southwest. The renter share has edged down 0.6 points since 2006–10, 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 | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.4% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 19.1% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 21.6% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 25.2% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | +3.8 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 25.2% of the housing in Madison County, 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. Since 2006–10, vacancy has risen 3.8 points, even as the national rate fell.
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 | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1975 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1980 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1983 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1986 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | +11 | +7 | +6 |
The housing in Madison County is younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1986, against 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1975 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southwest, while the north has the oldest housing.
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 | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $632 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $674 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $695 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $880 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$248 | +$528 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Madison County costs $880 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $248 a month since 2006–10, up 39%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 28.4% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Rents run highest in the east and lowest in the northwest.
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 | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.4% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 20.9% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 28.3% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 32.3% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +13.0 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
About a third of adults 25 and older in Madison County (32.3%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, a little below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 13.0 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the east and least in the northwest.
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 | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 78.8% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 80.8% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 86.7% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 89.7% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +10.9 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Madison County have finished high school as nationally: 89.7%, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 10.9 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 | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.1% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.8% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.5% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.6% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.5 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Madison County has been strong: just 2.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. No other North Carolina county has lower unemployment. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 4.5 points, in line with the national trend.
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 | 45.4 | 9.7% | 22.5% | 25.2% | 1986 | $880 | 32.3% | 89.7% | 2.6% |
| Yancey County | 2.31 | 48.9 | 7.2% | 20.6% | 26.7% | 1988 | $880 | 25.1% | 90.5% | 7.1% |
| Mitchell County | 2.21 | 48.1 | 7.5% | 23.7% | 22.7% | 1979 | $845 | 23.9% | 90.8% | 6.4% |
| Cocke County | 2.39 | 44.3 | 15.3% | 25.5% | 13.1% | 1985 | $830 | 10.9% | 84.6% | 3.7% |
| Sevier County | 2.51 | 43.2 | 10.5% | 29.3% | 22.0% | 1995 | $1,131 | 22.3% | 88.1% | 3.3% |
| Burke County | 2.38 | 44.4 | 10.1% | 25.5% | 9.9% | 1980 | $912 | 21.7% | 85.7% | 4.4% |
| Caldwell County | 2.49 | 43.9 | 13.4% | 26.5% | 12.5% | 1980 | $799 | 19.3% | 85.0% | 5.2% |
| Blount County | 2.51 | 44.1 | 8.4% | 23.0% | 10.2% | 1987 | $1,111 | 28.9% | 91.3% | 3.4% |
| Knox County | 2.46 | 38.8 | 9.4% | 34.8% | 8.5% | 1985 | $1,401 | 41.4% | 92.2% | 3.4% |
| Alexander County | 2.48 | 45.1 | 10.7% | 19.3% | 14.4% | 1985 | $774 | 16.9% | 85.7% | 4.6% |
| Loudon County | 2.46 | 48.6 | 7.6% | 19.7% | 9.5% | 1989 | $1,058 | 29.3% | 89.5% | 2.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Union County, GA · Calhoun County, SC · Calhoun County, TX · Camp County, TX · Caroline County, VA · Carroll County, AR · Carroll County, OH · Carroll County, TN · Carroll County, VA · Carter 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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