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Madison County, ID

RANK #468 / 996  ·  POP 52,487  ·  ID

PROJECTED GROWTH: +0.8%

Madison County's housing market is hot, but other economic signals are more mixed.

[01] Why Madison County?

Madison County, Idaho, is defined by Rexburg, its largest city and county seat, which is home to Brigham Young University-Idaho (BYU-Idaho). The presence of BYU-Idaho shapes the community, contributing to a youthful demographic and a strong family-oriented atmosphere. Located in the Upper Snake River Valley, about 25 miles northeast of Idaho Falls, the county offers access to outdoor recreation, including the St. Anthony Sand Dunes and proximity to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. Commutes within the county are generally short, with an average of 16.4 minutes. The Teton Lakes Golf Course, with its 27 holes and views of the Grand Tetons, is another notable local amenity.

Life in Madison County is influenced by the university, attracting families and young professionals. The Madison School District, serving Rexburg and surrounding areas, maintains an 89% high school graduation rate. The economy is largely driven by education, government, and healthcare, with BYU-Idaho being the largest employer. Recent economic developments include ongoing infrastructure projects, such as road extensions and a new fiber optic network connecting homes across Rexburg and Sugar City. The county is also preparing for a new regional landfill and has seen plans submitted for a new WinCo Foods store in Rexburg.

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
10.9x

Overvalued relative to economy

GDP Growth
+0.4%

Well below national median

Home Prices
+6.0%

Outpacing national median

Climate & Terrain
0.9

Moderate climate & terrain

Price/Rent
22x

Prices detached from rents

Housing looks overvalued at 10.9x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.

[03] Signal Profile

[04] Home Value Growth vs National

Madison County U.S. National

The Numbers

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
52,487
+2.96% YoY
Median Household Income
$53,025
Median Home Value
$324,300
+6.02% 12mo
Median Rent
$916
Average Annual Pay
$42,345
+5.9% YoY
Employment
17,397
+1.1% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.1635
Less affordable than average
Migration Inflow
7.0%
of pop. from another state

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Median Sale Price
$365,000
Days on Market
20
Active market
Months of Supply
5.5
Buyer's market
Sale-to-List Ratio
102.4%
Homes selling above asking
Sold Above List
5.9%
Listings w/ Price Drops
6.5%
Building Permits (2024)
274
Single-Family Permits
186

Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →

[05] Capital Investment

$130M
TOTAL
PROJECT AMOUNT STATUS
Madison County Fairgrounds Relocation
Madison County
$50M Planned
Madison Commons Mixed-Use Development
Trellis Development
$50M Under Construction
New Landfill in Newdale
Madison County
$30M Planned

Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.

[06] Score Breakdown

GDP Growth +0.4% 10 percentile
Population Growth +3.0% 95 percentile
Vacancy Rate 4.0% 1 percentile
Home Price Change +6.0% 94 percentile
Rent Growth +3.4% 58 percentile
Price/Rent 22x 5 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.

[07] Frequently Asked Questions

Is Madison County, ID a good place to move to?

Madison County has a Boom Town Index score of 53/100, ranking #468 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +1.1% and a median household income of $53,025, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.

Is Madison County affordable?

The median home value in Madison County is $324,300 with median rent at $916/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.1635, which is less affordable than the national average.

Is Madison County growing or shrinking?

Population growth: +3.0% year-over-year. Job growth: +1.1%. Home values changed +6.0% in the past 12 months.

Are people moving to Madison County?

Yes — 7.0% of Madison County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.

[08] Similar Metros

Wilkes County, NC 63 San Francisco County, CA 63 Union County, NJ 63 Carbon County, PA 63 Natrona County, WY 63 Washington County, MD 63 Hunterdon County, NJ 63 Bucks County, PA 63