The Town Files

Madison County, Iowa

16,926 people. The median home is worth $245,100 (typical Iowa town: $156,300) and the median household earns $90,855.

Towns in Madison County

Towns in Madison County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Winterset5,353$192,500$67,70837.5

People and housing

Madison CountyTypical Iowa town
Median home value$245,100$156,300
Median rent$1,036$820
Median household income$90,855$69,254
Median age40.640.2
Bachelor's degree or higher27.1%21.8%
Below the poverty line7.0%9.3%

Jobs and pay

4,235 jobs in 2024, average pay $50,189 a year.

Largest industries in Madison CountyRetail594 jobs · $28,525Construction347 jobs · $54,916Hotels & restaurants345 jobs · $17,468Health care & social assistan…303 jobs · $31,597Manufacturing244 jobs · $51,208Finance & insurance190 jobs · $83,606
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Madison County0%2%4%6%8%2000200420082012201620202023 3.5%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 543 storm events in Madison County from 1996 to 2026, with 6 deaths.

Storm events in Madison County by type since 1996Hail137Flood34Drought31Tornado28Blizzard14High Wind25Heavy Rain32Heavy Snow21Flash Flood21Funnel Cloud17
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Madison County has been included in 20 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
March 23, 2020BiologicalDR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3480: Covid-19
March 23, 2019FloodDR-4421: Severe Storms And Flooding
July 29, 2010Severe StormDR-1930: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes
March 2, 2010Severe StormDR-1880: Severe Winter Storm
May 27, 2008Severe StormDR-1763: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).