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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Madison County

North Carolina · 21,193 residents · 450 sq mi
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The short version

Madison County is a county of 21,193 people in North Carolina. At a median age of 45.9, this is an older place than the country as a whole. Owners hold 77% of the housing stock. 2% of locals were born outside the United States. Renters pay $686 a month at the median. The median household earns $46,190, about 30% below the national median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 45.9
US median: 38.8
Average education
30% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 59%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
21,193
+8%since 2000
from 19,635 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
45.9
+17%since 2000
from 39.3 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
450 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
16K18K19K21K22K19902000201020202024Madison County
202422K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 54.4%(934)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95%(1,056)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 144.9%(1,046)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 196.3%(1,344)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 246%(1,272)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3410.5%(2,220)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4411.5%(2,447)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5412.9%(2,727)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6414.9%(3,165)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7414.1%(2,991)
US avg: 10%
75 to 847.1%(1,503)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over2.3%(488)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$46,190
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,985 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$27,184
+69%since 2000
from $16,076 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
31.1%
+12.0 ptssince 2009
from 19.2% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
14.3%
−1.1 ptssince 2000
from 15.4% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information13.3%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade12.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Retail trade6.7%
US avg: 10%
Finance & insurance4.6%
US avg: 5.5%
Other services3.8%
US avg: 6.6%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.3%
US avg: 1.7%
Professional, scientific, technical3.2%
US avg: 4.7%
Construction2.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Public administration1.6%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing1.4%
US avg: 2.5%
Education & health services1.4%
US avg: 0.8%
Arts, entertainment, food1.3%
US avg: 2%
Manufacturing0.8%
US avg: 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$200,700
+59%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $84,100 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$686
+24%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $367 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
76.8%
+0.2 ptssince 2000
from 76.6% in 2000
23.2% rent
Persons per household
2.45 people
+8%since 2009
from 2.27 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
Afford Score
4.3
+7%since 2009
from 4.1 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic96.8%(19,004)
Black0.8%(160)
Hispanic / Latino1.4%(266)
Asian0.2%(43)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic90.8%(19,233)
Black0.9%(197)
Hispanic / Latino3.5%(748)
Asian0.4%(84)
Other1.8%(384)
Segregation Score
21
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
Mexican1.8%(380)
Cuban0.4%(78)
Costa Rican0.1%(29)
Puerto Rican0.1%(16)
Asian origin
Vietnamese0.3%(70)
Chinese0.1%(26)
Burmese0%(2)
Ancestry
English17.2%(3,722)
Irish12.2%(2,627)
American10.2%(2,206)
German10.1%(2,174)
Scotch-Irish4.8%(1,036)
Scottish3.1%(679)
Italian3.1%(660)
French2.5%(536)
Dutch2.1%(451)
Polish1.2%(249)
British1.1%(230)
Welsh0.8%(176)
+ 23 more ancestry groups with data
Norwegian0.5%(99)
Swedish0.4%(85)
Russian0.3%(70)
Romanian0.3%(60)
Czech0.2%(39)
Austrian0.2%(33)
Slovak0.1%(27)
Belgian0.1%(25)
Canadian0.1%(24)
Swiss0.1%(24)
Portuguese0.1%(23)
Australian0.1%(21)
Ukrainian0.1%(19)
West Indian0.1%(16)
Greek0.1%(13)
Jamaican0.1%(12)
Finnish0%(10)
Latvian0%(9)
Danish0%(5)
Haitian0%(3)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
30.1%
+14.0 ptssince 2000
from 16.1% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
88.8%
+19.4 ptssince 2000
from 69.3% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
11.3%
+4.8 ptssince 2000
from 6.5% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
31.4 min
+45%since 2000
from 21.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
80.6%
+3.8 ptssince 2009
from 76.8% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
3.6%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 6.5% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.4%
−4.8 ptssince 2011
from 8.2% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
54.4%
−0.1 ptssince 2011
from 54.4% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
67.3%
US average: 73.3%
Management & professional
35.3%
+7.6 ptssince 2009
from 27.7% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.1%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 49.5% in 2009
Female
50.9%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 50.5% in 2009
Foreign born
1.9%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
11.2%
−2.6 ptssince 2013
from 13.8% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
81.8%
US average: 91.9%
Same house as last year
89.8%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married33.5%(3,158)
Married51.7%(4,877)
Widowed3%(280)
Divorced11.8%(1,112)
Women 15+
Never married25.6%(2,435)
Married51.7%(4,912)
Widowed11.2%(1,059)
Divorced11.5%(1,090)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
11.2%
−2.6 ptssince 2013
from 13.8% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Employer-based
44.9%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
19.7%
US average: 13.7%
Medicare
25.7%
US average: 17.6%
Medicaid
18.8%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
3.1%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
63.4%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
40.2%
US average: 35.2%

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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later)16%(226)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)21%(297)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era35.8%(506)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War6.2%(87)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II0.8%(11)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 1,413 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
Drill deeper

Places similar to Madison County

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Pop 21,633
Meriwether County
Pop 21,516
Winston County
Pop 23,829
McDuffie County
Pop 21,640
Places similar to Madison County
Head to head

Compare Madison County to nearby counties

MADISON COUNTY VS
Buncombe County
Income$74,436+61%
Home value$391,800+95%
Population277,417+1130%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MADISON COUNTY VS
Yancey County
Income$58,709+27%
Home value$243,100+21%
Population19,084−15%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MADISON COUNTY VS
Cocke County
Income$48,016+4%
Home value$158,100−21%
Population37,889+68%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MADISON COUNTY VS
Greene County
Income$56,194+22%
Home value$207,500+3%
Population73,831+227%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Madison County, North Carolina?

Madison County, North Carolina has about 21,193 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Madison County, North Carolina?

The typical household in Madison County, North Carolina earns about $46,190 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 $200,700, and the typical rent is about $686 a month.

How educated are people in Madison County, North Carolina?

About 30.1% 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 14.3% 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 4,240 residents, a change of about 25 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →