1st Advantage MortgageThe median Madison County household earns $86,499, and 10% of residents live below the poverty line. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Madison County, AL: the basics
- Housing costs in Madison County
- How much Madison County households make
- How Madison County residents earn a living
- Madison County and the counties next door
- The communities that make up Madison County
- Who lives in Madison County, in numbers
- Local borrowing considerations for Madison County
- Room for a loan payment in Madison County
- Four steps for Madison County borrowers
- Alabama rules that apply in Madison County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Madison County, AL: the basics
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Madison County's population at 405,718; only 2 of Alabama's 67 county-level areas are larger. Packed into 802 square miles, that is close to 506 residents for every square mile of land. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Huntsville, AL metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. The Census Bureau counts 12 places in the county (6 incorporated, 6 census-designated); the largest is Huntsville, with about 222,791 residents, or 55% of the county.
Housing costs in Madison County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,209 in Madison County versus $1,007 statewide. By the Census definition, 44% of Madison County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $299,200, a typical Madison County house costs 3.5 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 68%. The median year built is 1992.
| Home costs | Madison County | Alabama | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,209/mo | $1,007/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $299,200 | $209,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 68% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 24% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 3.6% | 12.3% | n/a |
How much Madison County households make
At $86,499, the typical Madison County household income is 32% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 2nd of 67.
| Household income | Madison County | vs Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 19.4% | -8.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 37.2% | -3.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.5% | +6.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 13.9% | +6.1 pts |
Some 19% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 43% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 10.1%, 5 points lower than the state's 15.6%. A household earning below the $86,499 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
How Madison County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Madison County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 20% of workers, followed by professional and administrative services (19%). Professional and administrative services stands out: 19% of workers here, versus 10% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Madison County averages 3.6% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.7%). Long commutes are the exception here: 7% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 4.0% of the total (5.4% statewide).
| Where residents work | Madison County | Difference from Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 19.7% | -3.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 19.1% | +9.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.6% | -0.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.4% | -1.2 pts |
| Public administration | 8.7% | +3.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.6% | -0.5 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Madison County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Madison County and the counties next door
Six nearby counties, 25 to 37 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. None of the six report a higher median household income than Madison County; Limestone County is highest at $83,629 and Jackson County lowest at $51,908. The list crosses into Tennessee, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison County | - | $86,499 | $1,209/mo | 68% |
| Limestone County, AL | 25 mi | $83,629 | $970/mo | 78% |
| Lincoln County, TN | 26 mi | $64,667 | $857/mo | 76% |
| Morgan County, AL | 27 mi | $68,845 | $864/mo | 73% |
| Jackson County, AL | 32 mi | $51,908 | $780/mo | 75% |
| Marshall County, AL | 34 mi | $62,571 | $795/mo | 76% |
| Franklin County, TN | 37 mi | $63,494 | $894/mo | 77% |
The communities that make up Madison County
The table lists the 12 largest of 12 Census places in Madison County, by population. Together all 12 hold about 322,800 people, so roughly 20% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $140,114 at the median in Redstone Arsenal, $56,964 in Gurley. Rent is cheapest in Owens Cross Roads ($946) and steepest in Triana ($1,729). 2 of them have a separate city guide (linked). For the rest, this is the local guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville | city | 222,791 | $74,714 | $1,171 | 8 mi |
| Madison | city | 60,106 | $134,655 | $1,453 | 13 mi |
| Meridianville | CDP | 11,150 | $97,434 | $1,348 | 8 mi |
| Moores Mill | CDP | 6,378 | $96,774 | $1,288 | 6 mi |
| Harvest | CDP | 5,955 | $101,910 | $1,236 | 13 mi |
| Triana | city | 3,964 | $110,100 | $1,729 | 17 mi |
| Hazel Green | CDP | 3,940 | $86,271 | $992 | 11 mi |
| New Hope | city | 2,911 | $83,816 | $1,075 | 18 mi |
| Owens Cross Roads | city | 2,826 | $86,188 | $946 | 14 mi |
| New Market | CDP | 1,314 | $62,500 | $1,054 | 11 mi |
| Redstone Arsenal | CDP | 858 | $140,114 | $1,641 | 8 mi |
| Gurley | town | 607 | $56,964 | $1,054 | 11 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Who lives in Madison County, in numbers
College graduates make up 46% of the adult population. 7.7% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Madison County | Alabama statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.2 | 39.3 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 46.4% | 28.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.2% | 11.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.7% | 9.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.0% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 15.1% | 8.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.1% | 15.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.6% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Madison County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 25.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 47.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.1% |
| 60+ min | 2.7% |
Local borrowing considerations for Madison County
What the Madison County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Consolidation math. With 43% at six figures, card consolidation is common; it pays only if total cost falls (guide).
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
Room for a loan payment in Madison County
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Madison County's medians:
- Median income divided by twelve: $7,208 before taxes
- Median rent: $1,209, or 17 cents of every gross dollar
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,386 left for all other debt payments
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,891 left for all other debt payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Four steps for Madison County borrowers
A short checklist for Madison County borrowers:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Alabama.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Alabama rules that apply in Madison County
Consumer lenders serving Madison County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Alabama that is the Alabama State Banking Department. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. See the Alabama state guide for the statewide picture.
Related local guides
More local guides:
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Madison County household make?
About $86,499 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 35% above the Alabama median.
Is Madison County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,209 against $1,007 statewide, and 44% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Does this page cover Huntsville?
Yes, along with the other 11 Census places in Madison County, such as Madison, Meridianville, Moores Mill.
Is the fit check different in Madison County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Madison County?
Start with the Alabama State Banking Department, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.