1st Advantage MortgageMadison County households have a median income of $75,499 and median rent of $928 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- A quick profile of Madison County
- Employment and commuting in Madison County
- Income in Madison County compared with New York
- Madison County housing compared with New York
- Counties near Madison County
- The communities that make up Madison County
- A Madison County household budget, worked through
- What the numbers mean for Madison County borrowers
- Madison County households compared
- Licensing and complaints for Madison County
- A Madison County borrower's checklist
- More guides for Madison County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Madison County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Madison County's population at 67,328; only 36 of New York's 62 county-level areas are larger. Packed into 655 square miles, that is close to 103 residents for every square mile of land. It is one of the counties that make up the Syracuse, NY metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Oneida is the biggest of its 12 Census places, at roughly 10,171 people (15% of the county total).
Employment and commuting in Madison County
By the Census industry count, 31% of employed Madison County residents work in education and health care and 10% in retail trade. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 10% locally and 6% for New York. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 12% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Where residents work | Madison County | Difference from New York |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 31.4% | +2.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.0% | +0.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.7% | +3.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.0% | +0.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.0% | -4.3 pts |
| Construction | 6.7% | +1.0 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.
Income in Madison County compared with New York
Madison County households have a median income of $75,499 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 23rd of 62 in New York.
| Households earning | Madison County | +/- vs New York |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.5% | +0.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.3% | +6.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.4% | +1.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.8% | -8.3 pts |
About 23% of households earn under $35,000, while 37% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 10.0%, 4 points lower than the state's 14.0%. A household earning below the $75,499 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Madison County housing compared with New York
Renters in Madison County pay a median of $928 a month, 43% below the New York figure of $1,621. By the Census definition, 46% of Madison County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $184,600, or 2.4 years of median income. Owners occupy 78% of homes. Median construction year: 1964.
| Home costs | Madison County | New York | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $928/mo | $1,621/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $184,600 | $423,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 54% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 46% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 33% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 8.0% | 2.1% | n/a |
Because most Madison County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Counties near Madison County
Distances run center to center, from Oneida County at 26 miles out to Cayuga County at 47. Onondaga County leads the group on income ($76,945), Chenango County trails ($62,948), and Madison County out-earns 5 of the six.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison County | - | $75,499 | $928/mo | 78% |
| Oneida County, NY | 26 mi | $70,154 | $944/mo | 68% |
| Onondaga County, NY | 28 mi | $76,945 | $1,108/mo | 66% |
| Chenango County, NY | 30 mi | $62,948 | $875/mo | 75% |
| Cortland County, NY | 30 mi | $70,418 | $984/mo | 66% |
| Otsego County, NY | 38 mi | $68,885 | $987/mo | 74% |
| Cayuga County, NY | 47 mi | $67,904 | $942/mo | 71% |
The communities that make up Madison County
Here are the 12 most populous of the county's 12 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 46% of Madison County residents live in one of the 12. Incomes vary by place: $92,857 at the median in Cazenovia, $35,694 in Bridgewater. Rent is cheapest in Bridgewater ($735) and steepest in Hamilton ($1,245). This guide covers each of the 12 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oneida | city | 10,171 | $61,597 | $903 | 11 mi |
| Chittenango | village | 4,831 | $70,786 | $782 | 14 mi |
| Canastota | village | 4,487 | $74,015 | $930 | 13 mi |
| Hamilton | village | 4,370 | $66,750 | $1,245 | 8 mi |
| Cazenovia | village | 2,753 | $92,857 | $1,240 | 10 mi |
| Morrisville | village | 1,594 | $50,000 | $804 | 1 mi |
| Earlville | village | 654 | $75,469 | $1,242 | 13 mi |
| Bridgewater | CDP | 543 | $35,694 | $735 | 21 mi |
| Wampsville | village | 540 | $73,000 | $991 | 12 mi |
| Madison | village | 403 | $54,063 | $942 | 8 mi |
| Munnsville | village | 369 | $77,750 | $880 | 6 mi |
| DeRuyter | village | 349 | $55,000 | $456 | 15 mi |
A Madison County household budget, worked through
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Madison County's medians:
- Median income divided by twelve: $6,292 before taxes
- 15% goes to median rent ($928)
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,337 left for all other debt payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
What the numbers mean for Madison County borrowers
Where the Madison County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Rent squeeze. 46% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
- Consolidating cards in Madison County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
Madison County households compared
Degree holders: 30% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 3.8%, against 5.1% for New York.
| Measure | Madison County | New York statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.4 | 39.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 29.6% | 40.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.3% | 12.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.8% | 5.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.0% | 29.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.4% | 14.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.0% | 14.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.2% | 6.4% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Madison County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 32.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 24.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.5% |
| 60+ min | 5.0% |
Licensing and complaints for Madison County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Madison County, check the New York State Department of Financial Services. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: New York guide.
A Madison County borrower's checklist
A short checklist for Madison County borrowers:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Ask a Madison County credit union about member loans.
More guides for Madison County
The New York guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Madison County earn?
The median is $75,499; 37% earn $100,000 or more and 23% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Madison County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $928 against $1,621 statewide, and 46% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in Madison County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 78% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
I live in a small Madison County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Oneida, Chittenango, Canastota, Hamilton, Cazenovia and 7 more.
Is the fit check different in Madison County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.