The Town FilesMadison, West Virginia
City in Boone County · population 2,913 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $147,900
- Household income
- $58,872
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 17 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 42.7
Madison is a city of 2,913 people in Boone County, West Virginia. The median home is worth $147,900, above the typical West Virginia town ($125,000).
How Madison ranks
Percentile among West 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 West Virginia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Madison is worth $147,900, above the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $58,872, which is more affordable than 52% of West Virginia towns. Median rent is $944 a month. 66.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Madison | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $147,900 | $125,000 |
| Median rent | $944 | $811 |
| Median household income | $58,872 | $52,093 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 66.6% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Madison
| People | Madison | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.7 | 43.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.8% | 21.9% |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.6% | 18.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.9% | 18.6% |
| Veterans | 10.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 4.1% | 6.6% |
| Average commute | 17.8 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.6% | 86.7% |
Weather in Madison
July highs average 87.2°F and January lows 24.6°F. About 49.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 17.3 inches of snow (typical West Virginia town: 23.8 in). Expect about 34 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 112 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Madison since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical West Virginia town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on March 2, 2012 about 8.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 2, 2012.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 23, 1962.
Severe weather in Boone County since 1996
Boone County has been included in 31 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, chemical.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3639: Severe Winter Storm |
| February 26, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4861: Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| May 24, 2024 | Flood | DR-4787: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| May 22, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4783: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| January 30, 2024 | Flood | DR-4756: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Boone County
Boone County had 4,753 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $73,771 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Madison itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Public schools in Madison
3 public schools with 1,260 students, about 15.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scott High School | 9-12 | 562 | 17.6 |
| Madison Middle School | 6-8 | 424 | 15.7 |
| Madison Elementary | PK-5 | 274 | 11.9 |
Towns near Madison
- South Charleston, WV19.7 mi · 13,647 people · home $155,400
- Dunbar, WV21.3 mi · 7,480 people · home $119,600
- St. Albans, WV21.6 mi · 10,861 people · home $140,800
- Charleston, WV21.7 mi · 48,864 people · home $203,300
- Nitro, WV23.9 mi · 6,624 people · home $128,900
- Cross Lanes, WV25.7 mi · 9,727 people · home $153,800
- Teays Valley, WV27.2 mi · 14,350 people · home $278,000
- Hurricane, WV27.6 mi · 6,961 people · home $210,500
Madison questions
Is Madison, West Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Madison scores better for retirees than 20% of West Virginia towns and quieter than 65%. 26.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.7).
How much does a house cost in Madison?
The median owner-occupied home in Madison is valued at $147,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,872, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $944 a month.
What is the weather like in Madison?
July highs average 87.2°F and January lows 24.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.5 inches of precipitation a year and 17.3 inches of snow.
Does Madison get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Madison since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on March 2, 2012. The typical West Virginia town has had 5.
- 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)