Cost of Living in Madison County, Nebraska
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 #1,947 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 38%)
Sourced county brief
Madison County Median Home Value Exceeds Nebraska State Unweighted Mean
The median home value in Madison County was estimated at $208,500, which is above the Nebraska unweighted county mean of $164,635. For households in rental units, the median gross rent is $881 per month, compared to a state unweighted county mean of $797. The median renter-household income was recorded at $42,149. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI), sourced from ACS table B25071, is 25.8%. This canonical affordability metric is 2.6 percentage points higher than the Nebraska unweighted county mean of 23.2%. Among homeowners, the median selected monthly owner cost for all owner-occupied units is $1,035, while the Nebraska unweighted county mean for this metric is $860. These figures provide a snapshot of housing costs for distinct tenure groups using the 2020-2024 five-year estimates. See ACS table B25071 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 25.8% 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 $881 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,035. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $35,240 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 Nebraska unweighted mean of county median rents is $797 per month. Madison County's $881 median is 10.6% 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
16.7%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,473
per month
Owner Cost Burden
19.7%
of gross income
The median home in Madison County may be a stretch
Median home value is $208,500. Estimated monthly cost: $1,665 vs. your max of $1,473.
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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