The Town FilesMadison, Indiana
City in Jefferson County · population 12,357 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $203,100
- Household income
- $61,183
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 12 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 44.4
Madison is a city of 12,357 people in Jefferson County, Indiana. The median home is worth $203,100, above the typical Indiana town ($150,400). It ranks hipper than 98% of Indiana towns, better for young professionals than 95% of Indiana towns, better for retirees than 93% of Indiana towns.
How Madison ranks
Percentile among Indiana towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Indiana towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Madison is worth $203,100, above the typical Indiana town ($150,400). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $61,183, which is more affordable than 12% of Indiana towns. Median rent is $820 a month. 62.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Madison | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $203,100 | $150,400 |
| Median rent | $820 | $888 |
| Median household income | $61,183 | $61,953 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 62.1% | 73.4% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1966 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.1% | — |
Who lives in Madison
| People | Madison | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.4 | 38.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.0% | 17.1% |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.8% | 17.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.9% | 11.6% |
| Veterans | 4.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.4% | — |
| Work from home | 7.3% | 6.2% |
| Average commute | 19.4 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.9% | 89.2% |
Weather in Madison
July highs average 88.0°F and January lows 23.8°F. About 51.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 12.3 inches of snow (typical Indiana town: 21.1 in). Expect about 25 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 96 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Madison since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Indiana town. 14 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on March 2, 2012 about 8.9 miles from the town center and killed 4. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 15 deaths and 181 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 18, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 27 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 20, 2018.
Severe weather in Jefferson County since 1996
Jefferson County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 15, 2026 | Flood | EM-3651: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3641: Severe Winter Storm |
| July 22, 2025 | Flood | DR-4882: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4515: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3456: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Jefferson County
Jefferson County had 12,853 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,879 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Madison itself the ACS puts it at 5.2%.
Public schools in Madison
5 public schools with 2,442 students, about 15.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison Consolidated High School | 9-12 | 761 | 14.9 |
| Madison Consolidated Jr High Sch | 5-8 | 688 | 15.0 |
| Anderson Elementary School | PK-4 | 461 | 15.9 |
| Lydia Middleton Elementary School | PK-4 | 328 | 17.3 |
| Rykers' Ridge Elementary School | PK-4 | 204 | 13.6 |
Towns near Madison
- Hanover, IN5.2 mi · 3,743 people · home $138,700
- Carrollton, KY13.6 mi · 3,890 people · home $113,200
- Scottsburg, IN21.4 mi · 7,345 people · home $146,200
- North Vernon, IN21.7 mi · 6,608 people · home $128,600
- Austin, IN22.3 mi · 4,064 people · home $86,200
- Country Squire Lakes, IN24.7 mi · 3,558 people · home $26,600
- La Grange, KY25.0 mi · 10,067 people · home $283,200
- Buckner, KY25.7 mi · 5,785 people · home $425,400
Madison questions
Is Madison, Indiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Madison scores better for retirees than 93% of Indiana towns and quieter than 20%. 20.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.4).
How much does a house cost in Madison?
The median owner-occupied home in Madison is valued at $203,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,183, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $820 a month.
What is the weather like in Madison?
July highs average 88.0°F and January lows 23.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.0 inches of precipitation a year and 12.3 inches of snow.
Does Madison get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Madison since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on March 2, 2012. The typical Indiana town has had 23.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)