The Town FilesMadison, North Carolina
Town in Rockingham County · population 2,129 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $184,900
- Household income
- $52,593
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 47.5
Madison is a town of 2,129 people in Rockingham County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $184,900, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks hipper than 93% of North Carolina towns, more walkable than 88% of North Carolina towns, quieter than 83% of North Carolina towns.
How Madison ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Madison is worth $184,900, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $52,593, which is more affordable than 62% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $830 a month. 57.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Madison | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $184,900 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $830 | $969 |
| Median household income | $52,593 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 57.7% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1960 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Madison
| People | Madison | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.5 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.2% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 13.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.1% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.0% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 8.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.5% | — |
| Work from home | 10.1% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 20.2 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.0% | 89.5% |
Weather in Madison
July highs average 87.2°F and January lows 28.6°F. About 47.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 7.1 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 34 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 101 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Madison since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 20, 1998 about 0.5 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 30 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 3, 2009.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 9, 2008.
Severe weather in Rockingham County since 1996
Rockingham County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| August 2, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3534: Hurricane Isaias |
Jobs and pay in Rockingham County
Rockingham County had 24,908 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,428 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Madison itself the ACS puts it at 10.3%.
Public schools in Madison
3 public schools with 1,190 students, about 13.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Rockingham Middle | 6-8 | 537 | 14.1 |
| Huntsville Elementary | PK-5 | 385 | 14.3 |
| John W Dillard Academy | PK-5 | 268 | 12.8 |
Towns near Madison
- Mayodan, NC2.0 mi · 2,418 people · home $120,600
- Stoneville, NC6.3 mi · 1,308 people · home $150,600
- Stokesdale, NC11.5 mi · 5,924 people · home $379,100
- Walnut Cove, NC11.5 mi · 1,586 people · home $217,300
- Wentworth, NC12.2 mi · 2,662 people · home $170,300
- Summerfield, NC14.3 mi · 10,951 people · home $521,900
- Ridgeway, VA14.3 mi · 752 people · home $164,300
- Eden, NC15.1 mi · 15,421 people · home $120,700
Madison questions
Is Madison, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Madison scores better for retirees than 63% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 83%. 22.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.5).
How much does a house cost in Madison?
The median owner-occupied home in Madison is valued at $184,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,593, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $830 a month.
What is the weather like in Madison?
July highs average 87.2°F and January lows 28.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.4 inches of precipitation a year and 7.1 inches of snow.
Does Madison get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Madison since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on March 20, 1998. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- 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)