RANK #345 / 1001 NAT · #13 / 28 IL · POP 264,238
1YR FORECAST: +2.8%
5YR OUTLOOK: +31%
Madison County, Illinois, is often recognized for its historical significance, particularly as the starting point for the Lewis and Clark Expedition from Camp Dubois in Wood River. Located directly across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, Missouri, the county offers a blend of suburban and more rural communities. Commuting to St. Louis is a common practice, facilitated by major interstates and the Madison County Transit system, which also provides extensive local bus services and a vast network of bikeways. The county features diverse natural scenery, from the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi to prairie landscapes, with numerous parks and trails for outdoor recreation.
Life in Madison County appeals to families and professionals, with communities like Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, and Troy often cited for their quality of life. The economy is shaped by its proximity to a major metropolitan area and its historical industrial roots. Recent economic activity reflects investment in sectors such as logistics, energy, and advanced manufacturing, alongside ongoing infrastructure improvements. Educational opportunities are available through public school districts and institutions like Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
Madison County is one of 145 U.S. counties in this market profile — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +5.7% runs above the profile's typical +4.9%.
See all 145 Heartland Steady Growth counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below-average climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 7.1x — 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.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
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 →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Data Center Campuses (Proposed)
Multiple Developers (e.g., Cloverleaf Infrastructure)
|
$1,000M | Proposed |
|
IDOT Highway and Multimodal Program
Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT)
|
$720M | Planned |
|
Gateway Commerce Center & Lakeview Commerce Park Expansion
Multiple (e.g., Amazon, FedEx, P&G)
|
$500M | Operating |
|
Utility-Scale Battery Storage (MISO Zone 4 Allocation)
Illinois Power Agency (IPA) Procurements
|
$450M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 65/100, Madison County sits in the upper half of all 1001 ranked counties. Employment is expanding at +2.2%, and median household income stands at $75,793 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in IL.
By national standards, Madison County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $173,000, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.44 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $1,024/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Employers in Madison County are hiring — job growth of +2.2% — but the population is close to flat (-0.1% YoY). Home values moved +5.7% over the past year. Labor demand is outpacing local population growth, which tends to tighten wages and housing.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.16% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Madison County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.
Home values climbed +5.7% year-over-year, which is a solid pace of appreciation. The median home in Madison County is now valued at $173,000. That kind of growth typically reflects sustained demand rather than speculative frenzy.