Moving to Madison Guide 2025 : Demographics, Cost of living, Job, Taxes

If you or anyone you know is moving to Madison, Alabama, ensure you go through this ultimate Madison moving guide as we’ve got everything you need to know about this mid-sized city in the extreme north of Alabama.

There are many misconceptions about Madison like everyone in the city owns cows and they speak with a deep accent. Not everything you heard about the city is true and not all are false.

Know about the city in detail including the lifestyle, jobs, climate, safety, education, and transport. You’ve got many things in store and it is vital you know the city in and out before you pack the bags to Madison.

Here we start to check whether Madison is right for you.

Madison Quick Facts

Why Madison

Madison Pros & Cons

Madison Neighborhoods

Madison Cost of Living

Madison Taxes

Madison Things to Do

Madison Safety

Madison Schools

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Quick facts to know before you move to Madison

Learn some facts about Phoenix, AZ before moving to the city to help you decide if it's the right place for you.

The city is located in Madison County and is part of the Huntsville metro area
The first resident reached here in 1818
Formerly, the city was known as Madison Station but got its present name in 1869
Madison has rich historical monuments as the city was the center of the American Civil War
A 1.5-hour drive will take you to Nashville and Birmingham
Madison is just 3 hours away from Atlanta, Memphis, and Knoxville
Madison is a melting pot of many cultures
There is a lot to escape to nature in Madison

Top 10 things to know before moving to Madison

Madison is the wealthiest city in Alabama
This is the second most affordable city in Alabama
There is a fabulous food scene here
The city is culturally diverse
Madison is a major space center in the country
Madison homes are larger than many cities
The city allocates a major part of the budget for schools
The city residents are crazy about sports, especially hockey
About half of the population holds a bachelor's degree in Madison
Madison experiences all four seasons

How is it living in Madison?

Madison is one of the fastest growing cities in the state and this reflects in the city’s lifestyle. While being diverse and a big share of the residents are young, the city is packed with many places to hang out. Amazing dining, wining, and shopping venues await you. In addition, there are also good schools and colleges in the city. While living here, you’re also never away from outdoor fun as there are unlimited landscapes in and around Madison

How far is Madison from the ocean?

A five-hour drive from the city will take you to Orange Beach, which is 309 miles south of Madison. And if you are keen to drive a little more, Myrtle Beach, SC is there for you 550 miles away. This will work out, especially on weekends.

What is Madison, AL known for?

Madison is the second-largest city north of Tennessee and is a major financial house of Alabama State. The city is known for its quaint downtown, high-quality schools, and concentration of well-educated professionals. It is also famous for its warm southern hospitality and charm in a family-friendly community. Moving to Madison, you will feel you are at home as the city boasts of a warm and embracing attitude towards every newcomer.

What is the population of Madison?

The city has a population of 52,654, making the density 1,737 people per square mile. A total of 13,540 families is residing in the city. As per the stats, the population of Madison is one of the fastest growing in the US

Let’s take a look at the population stats of Madison to know the residential data in detail

Madison’s total population is 52,564
The population is made up of 49.1% males and 50.9% females
The median age in Madison is 37.9
The population is made up of 70.1% White, 14.7% Black or African American, 5.6% Asian, 0.5% Native American, and 3.3% from two or more races
About 5.1% of the population claims Hispanic Ethnicity in Madison
The median household size in Madison is 2.7 persons

How fast can you commute to Madison, AL?

In Madison, you may take approximately 19.4 minutes to commute, which is much shorter than the US average of 2.4 minutes. Despite Madison being the fastest-growing city in Alabama and the population increasing every year, you would spend less time on the road in comparison with many other Alabama cities. The commuting time is lower than the Alabama average of 23.9 minutes

Here’s how people in Madison get to work

About 91% drive their car alone
About 3.8% carpool with others
About 3.4% work from home

Tip: While moving the home, safety of your belongings is the priority and you need a trustworthy mover at your side. Know the top-rated moving companies in Madison, AL.

What is the weather like in Madison, AL?

Madison experiences hot, long, and muggy summers while winters are short, cold, and wet. The city will be partly cloudy year-round. The temperature in the city typically varies from 33°F to 89°F and is rarely below 18°F or above 96°F

Here are a few facts about the weather in Madison that will help you decide whether moving here is a good choice

The city receives about 55 inches of rain, on average, per year. The US average is 38 inches of rain per year
Madison averages 2 inches of snow per year. The US average is 28 inches of snow per year
On average, the city gets about 202 sunny days per year against the US average of 205 sunny days
The city receives some kind of precipitation, on average, 121 days per year in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail

Top 10 reasons to move to Madison, AL

Madison is a fast-growing city but is that the only reason why people move here? We’ve collated the top 10 reasons why you see a large population moving to Madison

Living here gives you a small-town feel
Low cost of living
Highly diverse population
Quality schooling
All four seasons are here
Near to most big cities in Alabama
Amazing culinary options
The city is a space center
Plenty of fun options around
Vibrant sports culture

Pros & Cons of moving to Madison

Are you still confused about whether to move to Madison or not? Here are a few pros and cons of moving to Madison. Analyze them to make the final call

To help, we’ve collated the pros and cons of moving to Madison.

Pros of living in Madison

Living cost
Diverse population
Jobs
Good food scene
Sports culture
Low poverty rate
No income tax

Cons of living in Madison

Extreme weather
High earthquake risk
Low internet speed

Best neighborhoods in Madison

When you are in Madison, your priority will be to find a home in a good neighborhood and fortunately, Madison has no shortage of good neighborhoods. We’ve listed out the top neighborhoods in the city.

Rank	Neighborhood	Home Value
1.	Madison West	$502,087
2.	Madison Northwest	$471,745
3.	Rainbow	$463,977
4.	Hermitage Place	$414,187
5.	Farley office Center	$404,670
6.	Maplewood	$402,170
7.	Triana / Willows at the River Landing	$396,307
8.	Village at Oakland Springs / Burgreen Gi	$393,882
9.	Greenbrier / Peets Corner	$347,817
10.	Madison Park / Clift Acres	7$323,857

Tip:When you’ve got a home to move in Madison, AL, getting the best moving quote will be your goal. Request moving company quotes to save on moving cost.

Cost of living in Madison

A major plus of moving to Madison is the low living cost. You would need to spend less here in comparison to many US cities.

As a result, your wallet will be fatter while living in Madison.

The following are the key components that makeup Madison’s cost of living:

Living Expense	Madison	Alabama	National Average
Overall	96	82.3	100
Grocery	99.3	94.4	100
Health	105.1	102.2	100
Housing	97.4	55.9	100
Median Home Cost	$293,200	$165,200	$291,700
Utilities	95.6	101.2	100
Transportation	80.7	85.9	100
Miscellaneous	102.4	94.5	100

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How is the housing market of Madison, AL?

While moving to Madison, the housing market will be one of your major concerns as your income will be highly based on the rent or home price. Interestingly, only 26.4% of the population stays in rented homes, and the rest of the population owns a house here.

Here is a list of a few housing facts in Madison, which we’ve collated to help you know more about homes in the city.

Madison’s median home cost is $293,200
The median age of Madison real estate is 22 years old
The home appreciation in the city in the last 10 years has been 41.9%.
Renters make up 26.4% of the Madison population
About 1.3% of houses and apartments in Madison are available to rent

Average rental prices in Madison, AL

As you’ve decided to move to Madison, knowing the latest home rental trends will help analyze future expenses in the city. We’ve got the recent rental stats

Madison’s average rent for a studio apartment is $660
Madison’s average rent for a 1-bedroom home or apartment is $773
Madison’s average rent for a 2-bedroom home or apartment is $916
Madison’s average rent for a 3-bedroom home or apartment is $1,214
Madison’s average rent for a 4-bedroom home or apartment is $1,458

What are taxes like in Alabama?

As you start earning, the take-home paycheck will be greatly based on taxes charged by the state.

In Alabama, both the sales tax and income tax are higher than the US average, which may impact your income.

The Sales Tax Rate for Madison is 10.0%. The US average is 7.3%
The Income Tax Rate for Madison is 6.0%. The US average is 4.6%
The average property tax rate in Madison is 3.33%

What are the best things to do in Madison, AL?

As you are moving to Madison, it would be good to know the things to do there. You’d be happy to know that Madison has no shortage of fun and entertainment. With a pristine outdoor scene and pleasant climate, the city promises amazing fun options to explore. We’ve listed out just 10 among them.

Explore Rainbow Mountain Trail
Stroll at Dublin Memorial Park
Learn science at U.S. Space & Rocket Center
Do winter activities at Insanity Skate Park
Catch up with the best wines at Mad County Winery
Visit Madison Public Library
Explore Burritt on the Mountain
Know the nature at Huntsville Botanical Garden
Make a trip to Monte Sano State Park
Appreciate arts and culture at Huntsville Museum of Art

How safe is Madison, AL?

Safety is a major factor in deciding whether you need to move to a new place. And knowing this, we researched the safety aspects of Madison, and here are our findings.

The rate of crime in Madison is 3.14 per 1,000 residents during a standard year
The violent crime rate in Madison is 18.5. The U.S. average is 22.7
The property crime rate in Madison is 32.2. The U.S. average is 35.4
Madison is safer than 35% of US cities
Residents have a 1 in 318 chance of being the victim of a violent crime
Residents have a 1 in 72 chance of being the victim of a property crime

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What are the top schools in Madison, AL?

While moving to Madison, AL with the family, education would be a major concern but luckily, Madison boasts of some of the best schools and colleges in the state.

Your child will have more opportunities to receive a premium education here. The reason – Madison is home to first-class schools and colleges.

Here’s a list of the best education institutions in Madison.