Español

Este sitio también está en español. Leer en español

City · 60,106 residents · Madison County, Alabama

Madison , Alabama

In Madison, a typical home is worth $398,800 and typical rent is $1,453 a month. Compared with all of Madison County, typical household income is 56% higher, the typical home value is 33% higher, and the share of households that own their home is 6 points higher.

WhatsApp

  • Typical home value

    $398,800

    33% above the county

    90% above Alabama

    • Madison
    • County
    • Alabama

  • Typical rent

    $1,453a month

    20% above the county

    44% above Alabama

    • Madison
    • County
    • Alabama

  • Typical household income

    $134,655a year

    56% above the county

    110% above Alabama

    • Madison
    • County
    • Alabama

  • Households that own their home

    74%

    6 points above the county

    4 points above Alabama

    • Madison
    • County
    • Alabama

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$376,486
0.9% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,411 a month
2.2% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Madison is in Madison County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Madison County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Madison apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. The typical household income in Madison is $134,655, 56% more than in Madison County as a whole ($86,499).

  2. Nearby, in Decatur, the typical home value is $210,200: 47% less than in Madison ($398,800).

  3. Nearby, in Decatur, the typical rent is $896: 38% less than in Madison ($1,453).

  4. The typical home in Madison is worth $398,800, 33% more than in Madison County as a whole ($299,200).

  5. The typical rent in Madison is $1,453 a month, 20% more than in Madison County as a whole ($1,209).

  6. 74% of households in Madison own their home, against 68% in Madison County.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Madison

What homes there are in Madison, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

Detached houses, standing on their own, make up 75% of homes here, against 71% in Madison County.

Year built

The typical home in Madison was built in 2001, 9 years after the typical one in Madison County.

Homes in Madison are bigger: 80% have 3 bedrooms or more; in Madison County, 73%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

By price, most homes in Madison sit under the FHA limit for Madison County ($541,287): about 74%.

Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$2,055 a month

Madison County: $1,562 a month

Without a mortgage

$611 a month

Madison County: $480 a month

Owners with a mortgage

71%

Madison County: 63%

Owning costs more in Madison: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $2,055 a month; in Madison County, $1,562. Without one, $611.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

The typical home value in Madison rose 58% since 2015–2019, less than in Madison County (61%).

The typical rent in Madison rose 54% over the same time; in Madison County, it rose 41%.

The typical household income in Madison rose 36%: less than home values (+58%) and rent (+54%).

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureMadisonMadison CountyAlabamaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate6.5%7.2%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.8%1.1%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate1.3%1.7%3.4%
People per household 2.662.392.482.53
Drive alone 74%76%81%69%
Carpool 5%7%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate1%1%3%
Work from home 19%15%9%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

More people live in each home here: 2.66 on average, against 2.39 in Madison County.

Many people here do not commute at all: 19% work from home; in Madison County, 15%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Madison?

A typical home is tight for the typical income

We start with a typical home in Madison, worth $398,800, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 28% of the typical household income in Madison, which is $134,655 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $135,488 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Madison County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Madison. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $13,958 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$3,161

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$391,577
Total interest
$563,387
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $6,735 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $3,142 a month

  • Tight

    $3,142 to $4,040 a month

    Your payment · 28%

  • Hard

    more than $4,040 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Madison ($134,655 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$3,161
Principal & interest$2,653
Property tax$166
Home insurance$166
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$176

You need at least $13,958 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Madison and Madison County

Madison is in Madison County, Alabama. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Madison's own numbers

Typical home value
$398,800
Typical monthly rent
$1,453
Typical yearly household income
$134,655
Households that own their home
74%
Effective property tax rate
0.5%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Madison County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,341
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+53%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
3.3%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Madison County.

Everything about Madison County

Buying

Buying a home in Madison

A typical home in Madison is worth $398,800: 33% above the county and 90% above Alabama. With the typical household income in Madison ($134,655 a year), a typical home costs 3.0 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Madison 3.0 years
  • County 3.5 years
  • Alabama 3.3 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Madison County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Madison County rose 93% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Madison County.

Period County Alabama U.S.
Last year (2025) +1.2% +2.5% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +53% +47% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +93% +77% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Madison next to Madison County, Alabama and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Madison $398,800
  • County $299,200
  • Alabama $209,900
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Madison $1,453
  • County $1,209
  • Alabama $1,007
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Madison $134,655
  • County $86,499
  • Alabama $63,999
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Madison next to Madison County and Alabama
Measure Madison Madison County Alabama U.S.
Typical home value $398,800 $299,200 $209,900 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,453 $1,209 $1,007 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $134,655 $86,499 $63,999 $80,734
Households that own their home 74% 68% 70% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $1,994 $1,185 $788 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.5% 0.4% 0.38% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 38% 44% 49% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Madison County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Madison

For a typical $398,800 home in Madison, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Madison's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $3,161a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $13,958
    Cash to close
    $25,922
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $176

  • Conventional, 5% down $3,088a month

    Down payment
    $19,940
    Cash to close
    $31,904
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $189

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $2,494a month

    Down payment
    $79,760
    Cash to close
    $91,724
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $2,862a month

    Down payment
    $59,820
    Cash to close
    $71,784
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Madison and for Madison County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Madison

0.5%of the home’s value each year

$1,994 a year for the typical owner in Madison.

  • Madison 0.5%
  • County 0.4%
  • Alabama 0.38%

What Alabama publishes Basic homestead exemption (type H-1) (Alabama Department of Revenue)

Exemptions and deadlines in Alabama

Flood risk in Madison County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Madison County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
3.3%
4,593
Of those, with NFIP insurance
38%
County Alabama U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 3.3% 3.2% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 38% 29% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Madison

Typical rent in Madison is $1,453 a month: 20% above the county. In Madison, 38% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Madison County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,341 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $25.79 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Madison County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,119 $21.52 $44,760
1 bedroom $1,177 $22.63 $47,080
2 bedrooms $1,341 $25.79 $53,640
3 bedrooms $1,735 $33.37 $69,400
4 bedrooms $2,241 $43.10 $89,640

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Madison

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Madison has 2 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,630 in 35758 to $2,010 in 35756.

2 of the 2 are above the fair market rent for Madison County ($1,341).

  • 35756 $2,010$2,600
  • 35758 $1,630$2,110

2 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Madison when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Madison

HUD lists 9 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Madison. These are the largest.

  • Tanner Homes 106A Garner St, Madison 35758 300 homes, 299 low-income · Run by Top of Alabama Regional Housing Authority · Average payment: $391 a month · Average wait: 17 months (256) 593-9164
  • Stoneridge Villas F/K/A Balch Road Senior Cottages 1730 Balch Rd, Madison 35757 80 low-income homes · In service since 2019 · For people with disabilities
  • Eagle's Landing Development 162 Royal Dr, Madison 35758 64 low-income homes · 2 bd: 24 · 3 bd: 40 · In service since 2010 · For people with disabilities, families
  • Dublin Village 106 W Dublin Dr, Madison 35758 58 homes, 57 low-income · For older adults (256) 772-0220
  • Arlington Park 135 Royal Dr, Madison 35758 50 low-income homes · 1 bd: 10 · 2 bd: 30 · 3 bd: 10 · In service since 1993 · For people with disabilities, families

See all 51 buildings in Madison County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Madison

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There are 3 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Madison County; none says it serves in Spanish.

A young woman and a young man point to a line in their notes beside a laptop in a library.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Madison

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Madison or Madison County. The ones below are statewide in Alabama: they work in Madison the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Alabama

  • Step Up

    Statewide in Alabama

    Alabama state authority program with down payment assistance of 4% of the price (up to $10,000) as a 10-year second mortgage, alongside a 30-year fixed mortgage. Offered by Alabama Housing Finance Authority (AHFA).

    Repayable

    See the program Official page

  • First Step Mortgage Revenue Bonds

    Statewide in Alabama

    Alabama state authority 30-year low-rate mortgage, for first-time buyers and for people who have owned a home before, with down payment assistance of 4% of the price, up to $10,000, as a ten-year second mortgage. Offered by Alabama Housing Finance Authority (AHFA).

    Repayable

    See the program Official page

  • Affordable Income Subsidy Grant

    Statewide in Alabama

    Alabama state authority grant for closing costs with an HFA Advantage conventional loan: 1% of the loan if you earn up to 50% of the area median, or half a percent if you earn 50% to 80%. Offered by Alabama Housing Finance Authority (AHFA).

    Grant

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Madison

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Madison, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Nid-Hca Madison

    1525 Perimeter Pkwy NW, Huntsville · 6 miles away

    • Budget and credit workshops
    • Home improvement and repairs
    • and 5 more
    (256) 850-3132

  • Community Action Partnership, Huntsville/Madison & Limestone Counties, Inc

    3516 Stringfield Rd NW, Huntsville · 9 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 7 more
    (256) 851-9800

  • Family Services Center, Inc.

    520 Madison St SE, Huntsville · 10 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 7 more
    (256) 551-1610

Every agency in Madison County All counseling agencies in Alabama

Help in Spanish near Madison

None of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Madison

In HUD’s record, no housing authority with an office in Madison County is named for Madison or Madison County.

2 other authorities have an office in Madison County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Madison County

These cities are also in Madison County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Madison County Housing in Alabama

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Madison, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Madison County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Madison.

All guides
Three generations of a family gather on the porch of their home.

Questions

Housing questions about Madison

Short answers with the numbers for Madison and all of Madison County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Madison?

The typical home value in Madison is $398,800, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Madison County it is $299,200.

How much does it cost to rent in Madison?

Typical rent in Madison is $1,453 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Madison County is $1,341.

What is the FHA loan limit in Madison?

Madison uses the FHA limit for all of Madison County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Madison?

The typical homeowner in Madison pays $1,994 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.5% of the home’s value; in Madison County, the rate is 0.4%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Madison?

There are 3 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Madison County. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).