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COUNTY

Madison County

Iowa · 17,270 residents (2025 est.) · 561.006 sq mi
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The short version

Madison County is wealthier than most US places, with a median household income of $90,855. Population has grown 21% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $245,100. It ranks in the top 5% of US counties for household income.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.6
US median: 38.9
Less educated
27% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 44%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
16,926
+21%since 2000
from 14,019 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
30 / sq mi
+11%since 2009
from 27 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
40.6
+7%since 2000
from 37.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:17,270 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
12K13K15K16K17K1990201020202024Madison County
202417K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.7%(964)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 98.2%(1,380)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.4%(1,081)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 197.3%(1,231)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.7%(802)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 349.6%(1,624)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4413.6%(2,303)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5413.4%(2,267)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6413.5%(2,279)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7410.9%(1,838)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 845.3%(901)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.5%(256)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$90,855
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $41,845 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$43,167
+123%since 2000
from $19,357 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
58.2%
+22.3 ptssince 2009
from 35.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
7.0%
+0.3 ptssince 2000
from 6.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.391
−5%since 2010
from 0.411 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Wholesale trade14.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services13.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Information11.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Public administration10.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Retail trade7.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing4.9%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction4.9%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing4.5%
US avg: 2.2%
Finance & insurance3.2%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, food0.8%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.3%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$245,100
+44%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $93,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,036
+28%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $445 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
80.1%
+2.2 ptssince 2000
from 78.0% in 2000
19.9% rent
Vacancy rate
5.7%
−4.0 ptssince 2009
from 9.6% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
16.5%
−8.9 ptssince 2009
from 25.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
33.7%
+2.8 ptssince 2009
from 30.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.7
+10%since 2009
from 2.5 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
74
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Madison County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98.2%(13,763)
Black0.1%(12)
Hispanic / Latino0.7%(105)
Asian0.2%(25)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic94.3%(15,953)
Black0.7%(125)
Hispanic / Latino2.3%(383)
Asian0.4%(76)
Other2.3%(389)
Diversity Score
14
+95%since 2009
from 7 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
24
+53%since 2020
from 16 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican1.6%(265)
Salvadoran0.2%(27)
Puerto Rican0.1%(25)
Spaniard0.1%(24)
Asian origin
Korean0.1%(23)
Chinese0.1%(19)
Laotian0.1%(9)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
German30.2%(5,117)
Irish16.4%(2,784)
English12.4%(2,104)
American4.6%(787)
Norwegian4.3%(734)
Dutch3.7%(618)
Italian2.1%(353)
Scottish2%(344)
Swedish1.7%(280)
French1.2%(203)
Danish1.2%(201)
Scotch-Irish1.1%(191)
+ 18 more ancestry groups with data
Czech0.8%(135)
Welsh0.7%(118)
Greek0.5%(92)
British0.5%(88)
Polish0.5%(86)
Swiss0.5%(82)
Russian0.5%(77)
Belgian0.1%(25)
Arab0.1%(12)
Lebanese0.1%(12)
Ukrainian0.1%(9)
Finnish0%(1)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest American population · Largest Norwegian population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
27.1%
+12.8 ptssince 2000
from 14.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
96.6%
+9.0 ptssince 2000
from 87.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
6.5%
+3.1 ptssince 2000
from 3.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
28.7 min
+44%since 2000
from 19.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
72.7%
−5.1 ptssince 2009
from 77.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
6.9%
−5.7 ptssince 2009
from 12.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.1%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
17.4%
+11.3 ptssince 2009
from 6.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.5%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.6%
+3.8 ptssince 2009
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.5%
−2.0 ptssince 2011
from 5.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
69.7%
−0.5 ptssince 2011
from 70.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
10.0%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 12.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
40.3%
−22.0 ptssince 2009
from 62.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.3%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 50.6% in 2009
Female
49.7%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.4% in 2009
Foreign born
1.8%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.8%
−43.1 ptssince 2009
from 50.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
9.5%
−0.1 ptssince 2012
from 9.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.9%
−87.5 ptssince 2013
from 92.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
89.7%
+14.3 ptssince 2017
from 75.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
96.1%
−1.6 ptssince 2016
from 97.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.8%
−0.2 ptssince 2016
from 1.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married26.5%(1,798)
Married59%(4,003)
Widowed4.4%(300)
Divorced10%(681)
Women 15+
Never married22%(1,479)
Married58.3%(3,914)
Widowed9.5%(637)
Divorced10.3%(689)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Head to head

Compare Madison County to nearby counties

MADISON COUNTY VS
Warren County
Income$94,588+4%
Home value$269,600+10%
Population57,331+232%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MADISON COUNTY VS
Clarke County
Income$71,641−21%
Home value$161,100−34%
Population9,574−45%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MADISON COUNTY VS
Adair County
Income$68,092−25%
Home value$160,400−35%
Population7,403−57%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MADISON COUNTY VS
Union County
Income$57,772−36%
Home value$122,000−50%
Population11,829−32%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Madison County, Iowa?

Madison County, Iowa has about 16,926 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Madison County, Iowa?

The typical household in Madison County, Iowa earns about $90,855 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Madison County, Iowa expensive?

In Madison County, Iowa, the median home is worth about $245,100, and the typical rent is about $1,036 a month.

How educated are people in Madison County, Iowa?

About 27.1% of adults age 25 and over in Madison County, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Madison County, Iowa?

About 7.0% of people in Madison County, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.

Has Madison County, Iowa grown since 1990?

Yes, Madison County, Iowa has grown since 1990. The population has added about 4,443 residents, a change of about 36 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

4 census tracts
Census Tract 602Census Tract 603Census Tract 601.01Census Tract 601.02
12 ZIP codes
ZIP 50273ZIP 50261ZIP 50072ZIP 50240ZIP 50061ZIP 50070ZIP 50257ZIP 50149ZIP 50218ZIP 50222ZIP 50155ZIP 50033
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →