Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Madison, AL

    Is Madison a good place to live?

    Watch Madison

    Madison ranks #1 of 24 Alabama cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (86/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 2.4% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $367,900
    +12.5% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,375
    per month
    Household income
    $131,436
    median
    Unemployment
    2.5%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Madison

    The median home value in Madison is $367,900 and median rent is $1,375 a month, against a median household income of $131,436. Homes cost about 2.8× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Madison crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Alabama the 2025 rate was 353 violent and 1,501 property crimes per 100,000 people — #23 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Madison, AL

    Madison has about 58,335 residents, 2.5% unemployment and 36% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Madison with

    Madison vs HuntsvilleMadison vs BirminghamMadison vs MontgomeryMadison vs MobileMadison vs TuscaloosaMadison vs HooverMadison vs AuburnMadison vs Dothan

    More: Where to move in Alabama · Best counties in Alabama

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report