With 21,867 people, Madison County is a county in North Carolina. At a median age of 44.5, this is an older place than the country as a whole. The foreign-born share is 1%. 77% of homes are owner-occupied. Renters pay $780 a month at the median. Density works out to 49 people per square mile.
At a glance
Lower income
median household income $58,531, below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 44.5
US median: 38.9
Average education
32% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 86%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about Madison County
What changed most since 1990
Median home value (2024 dollars)$113,283 → $284,600(+151%)US over the same years: +67%
White share98.4% → 91.2%(−7.2 pts)US over the same years: −17.8 pts
Poverty rate20.4% → 12.1%(−8.2 pts)US over the same years: −0.8 pts
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans
Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)15.8%(197)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)18.2%(227)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era41.2%(513)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War3.2%(40)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 1,245 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time
Madison County, decade by decade
Madison County population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
16,953
$45,496
$113,283
11.3%
4.0
2000
19,635
$56,444
$153,201
16.1%
7.9
2010
20,764
$55,500
$222,403
19.2%
12.0
2020
21,193
$55,984
$243,256
30.1%
21.8
2024
21,867
$58,531
$284,600
32.2%
20.6
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
How many people live in Madison County, North Carolina?
Madison County, North Carolina has about 21,867 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Madison County, North Carolina?
The typical household in Madison County, North Carolina earns about $58,531 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Madison County, North Carolina expensive?
In Madison County, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $284,600, and the typical rent is about $780 a month.
How educated are people in Madison County, North Carolina?
About 32.2% of adults age 25 and over in Madison County, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Madison County, North Carolina?
About 12.1% of people in Madison County, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.
Has Madison County, North Carolina grown since 1990?
Yes, Madison County, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 4,914 residents, a change of about 29 percent over that period.
