1st Advantage MortgageIn Madison County, Idaho, the typical household earns $60,160 a year and the typical rent is $1,014. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- A quick profile of Madison County
- How much Madison County households make
- What it costs to live in Madison County
- Employment and commuting in Madison County
- Madison County towns compared
- Counties near Madison County
- Debt-to-income at Madison County's medians
- Reading the Madison County data as a borrower
- Who lives in Madison County, in numbers
- Before you sign
- Checking a lender's license in Idaho
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Madison County
With an estimated 54,618 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Madison County ranks 7th of 44 in Idaho for population. Land area is 469 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 116 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Madison County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Rexburg is the biggest of its 2 Census places, at roughly 40,543 people (74% of the county total).
How much Madison County households make
Half of Madison County households take in less than $60,160 a year and half take in more, 23% below the Idaho median of $77,800. That places it 35th among Idaho's 44 county-level areas.
| Households earning | Madison County | +/- vs Idaho |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 23.9% | +4.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 50.4% | +6.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 18.7% | -9.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.0% | -2.2 pts |
About 24% of households earn under $35,000, while 26% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 24.5%, 14 points higher than the state's 10.6%. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Madison County median.
What it costs to live in Madison County
Renters in Madison County pay a median of $1,014 a month, 18% below the Idaho figure of $1,238. By the Census definition, 49% of Madison County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $414,800, a typical Madison County house costs 6.9 times what the median household earns in a year. 40% of Madison County households own their home and 60% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 2002.
| Measure | Madison County | Idaho | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,014/mo | $1,238/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $414,800 | $418,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 40% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 49% | 47% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 27% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 4.2% | 6.9% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 12% | 10% | n/a |
With renters making up 60% of households, many Madison County borrowers have no home equity to fall back on, so the cheapest written offer on an unsecured loan matters more.
Employment and commuting in Madison County
The biggest employer of Madison County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 35% of workers, followed by arts, lodging and food service (15%). Compared with Idaho, the county leans toward education and health care (35% against 22%). Averaged over the five survey years, 8.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 7% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Where residents work | Madison County | Difference from Idaho |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 34.8% | +12.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 15.0% | +6.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.5% | +1.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.3% | -0.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 5.5% | -3.9 pts |
| Construction | 5.5% | -3.9 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 towns compared
2 Census places fall mainly inside Madison County; the 2 biggest are below. They account for 42,665 residents, leaving about 22% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. This guide covers each of the 2 places and the rural areas around them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rexburg | city | 40,543 | $50,617 | $1,004 | 7 mi |
| Sugar City | city | 2,122 | $66,953 | $1,330 | 8 mi |
Counties near Madison County
Distances run center to center, from Teton County at 22 miles out to Bingham County at 54. Teton County leads the group on income ($99,805), Clark County trails ($55,208), and Madison County out-earns 1 of the six.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison County | - | $60,160 | $1,014/mo | 40% |
| Teton County, ID | 22 mi | $99,805 | $1,319/mo | 81% |
| Bonneville County, ID | 27 mi | $79,068 | $1,133/mo | 72% |
| Fremont County, ID | 31 mi | $72,683 | $864/mo | 83% |
| Jefferson County, ID | 33 mi | $86,679 | $1,138/mo | 83% |
| Clark County, ID | 49 mi | $55,208 | $773/mo | 61% |
| Bingham County, ID | 54 mi | $77,878 | $874/mo | 81% |
Debt-to-income at Madison County's medians
How much room does a median Madison County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $5,013 a month: gross income for a household at the Madison County median
- Housing at the median rent of $1,014 uses 20%
- At 35%, room after rent is $741 a month
- Under a 45% cap, $2,256 total minus rent leaves $1,242
If your rent is above $1,014, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Reading the Madison County data as a borrower
What the Madison County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Assistance before credit. With a 24% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Madison County loan.
- Rent squeeze. 49% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Madison County borrower sees (free reports).
Who lives in Madison County, in numbers
42% of Madison County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 4.9% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Madison County | Idaho statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 21.4 | 37.3 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 41.8% | 31.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 2.7% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.9% | 9.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.1% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 13.3% | 13.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 24.5% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 8.3% | 3.7% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 61.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 19.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.9% |
| 60+ min | 4.0% |
Before you sign
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Price the Madison County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Checking a lender's license in Idaho
Before sharing details with a lender, a Madison County resident can confirm its license with the Idaho Department of Finance. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. More on Idaho: Idaho personal loans.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Idaho guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Madison County household make?
About $60,160 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 23% below the Idaho median.
Is Madison County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,014 against $1,238 statewide, and 49% of renter households are cost-burdened.
What are the biggest places in Madison County?
By population: Rexburg, Sugar City. The county has 2 Census places in all.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Madison County or elsewhere in Idaho, the same rules apply.
Is there a Madison County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Idaho it is the Idaho Department of Finance.