Cost of Living in Madison County, Illinois
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Madison County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Madison County ranks #2,357 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 25%)
Sourced county brief
Madison County Median Gross Rent Reaches $1,024 Per Month
Madison County recorded a median gross rent of $1,024 per month according to the latest ACS 5-year estimates. This figure is $157 higher than the Illinois unweighted county mean rent of $867. The median home value in the county was estimated at $173,000, which is above the state unweighted county mean of $153,020. Among homeowners, median selected monthly owner costs for all units were $1,123, compared to the Illinois unweighted county mean of $960. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) is 28.5% for the county, which is 2.4 percentage points above the state unweighted county mean official GRAPI of 26.1%. Renter households in Madison County have a median income of $43,643. These statistics are derived from the ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates. See ACS table B25064 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Madison County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 28.5% of renter household income in Madison County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,024 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,123. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $40,960 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Illinois unweighted mean of county median rents is $867 per month. Madison County's $1,024 median is 18.1% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Madison County
Rent Burden
16.2%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,769
per month
Owner Cost Burden
17.8%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Madison County
Median home value is $173,000. Estimated monthly cost: $1,381 vs. your max of $1,769.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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