Rexburg
RANK #303 / 996 NAT · POP 52,487
1YR FORECAST: +3.0%
5YR OUTLOOK: +29%
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.
Overvalued relative to economy
Well below national median
Moderate climate & terrain
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.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
| 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.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 69/100, Madison County sits in the upper half of all 996 ranked counties. Employment is expanding at +1.1%, and median household income stands at $53,025 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in ID.
Madison County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $324,300 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.16 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $916/month on average.
Madison County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +3.0% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +1.1% clip — and home values reflect that momentum, rising +6.0% over the past 12 months.
In significant numbers — 7.0% of Madison County's current population relocated from another state, well above the national norm. That level of in-migration usually signals a county where jobs, affordability, or quality of life are pulling people in from elsewhere.
Home values climbed +6.0% year-over-year, which is a solid pace of appreciation. The median home in Madison County is now valued at $324,300. That kind of growth typically reflects sustained demand rather than speculative frenzy.