The Town FilesMadison Heights, Virginia
Community in Amherst County · population 10,893 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $191,300
- Household income
- $60,215
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 12 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 44.4
Madison Heights is a community of 10,893 people in Amherst County, Virginia. The median home is worth $191,300, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050).
How Madison Heights ranks
Percentile among Virginia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Virginia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Madison Heights is worth $191,300, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $60,215, which is more affordable than 75% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $871 a month. 71.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Madison Heights | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $191,300 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $871 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $60,215 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 71.4% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.4% | — |
Who lives in Madison Heights
| People | Madison Heights | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.4 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.0% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 18.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.4% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.5% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 6.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 8.7% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 24.2 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.0% | 91.8% |
Weather in Madison Heights
July highs average 85.3°F and January lows 24.5°F. About 43.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 12.4 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 20 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 119 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Madison Heights since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 15, 2018 about 4.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 15, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 41 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 27, 2026.
Severe weather in Amherst County since 1996
Amherst County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3631: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4512: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3448: Covid-19 |
| September 11, 2018 | Hurricane | EM-3403: Hurricane Florence |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3359: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Amherst County
Amherst County had 8,168 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,248 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Madison Heights itself the ACS puts it at 5.2%.
Public schools in Madison Heights
5 public schools with 1,674 students, about 13.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monelison Middle | 6-8 | 512 | 13.1 |
| Madison Heights Elementary | PK-5 | 429 | 13.4 |
| Amelon Elementary | PK-5 | 415 | 13.0 |
| Elon Elementary | PK-5 | 318 | 13.3 |
| Central Va. Training Ctr. | PK-12 | — | — |
Towns near Madison Heights
- Lynchburg, VA6.0 mi · 79,009 people · home $229,800
- Forest, VA10.6 mi · 11,709 people · home $319,800
- Timberlake, VA11.9 mi · 13,267 people · home $235,900
- Bedford, VA23.5 mi · 6,657 people · home $222,500
- Buena Vista, VA23.6 mi · 6,641 people · home $156,200
- Altavista, VA24.6 mi · 3,378 people · home $142,900
- Lexington, VA29.4 mi · 7,320 people · home $275,200
Madison Heights questions
Is Madison Heights, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Madison Heights scores better for retirees than 35% of Virginia towns and quieter than 57%. 21.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.4).
How much does a house cost in Madison Heights?
The median owner-occupied home in Madison Heights is valued at $191,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,215, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $871 a month.
What is the weather like in Madison Heights?
July highs average 85.3°F and January lows 24.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.6 inches of precipitation a year and 12.4 inches of snow.
Does Madison Heights get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Madison Heights since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 15, 2018. The typical Virginia town has had 11.
- 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)