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Madison County, IA
7 cities and towns and 11 ZIP codes in Madison County, Iowa.
Population
16,926
Land area
561sq mi
People per sq mi
30
ZIP codes
11
Cities and towns in Madison County
Madison County at a glance
- Madison County is 48% less dense than Iowa as a whole.
- The median household income is $90,855, 21% above the Iowa median of $75,059.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $245,100 (18% above Iowa) and median rent is $1,036 a month.
- Its largest cities are Winterset (5,416), Earlham (1,528) and St. Charles (914).
Local data for Madison County, IA
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Madison County, IA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$90,855
Poverty rate
7.0%
Median home value
$245,100
Prices +0.4% in a year
Median rent
$1,036/mo
Homeownership
80.1%
Bachelor's or higher
27.1%
Median age
40.6
Average commute
28.7 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (5,117), Irish Americans (2,784), Norwegian Americans (734).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
2.8%
Sep 2026, +0.2 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$51,986
4,194 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$64,051
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$104M
FY 2026, $6,260 per person
PPP loans
$40.9M
1,285 loans, 4,550 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$251K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Madison County, IA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone72.7%
- Carpooled6.9%
- Public transit0.1%
- Walked2.5%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.4%
- Worked from home17.4%
Average one-way commute: 28.7 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Madison County, IA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very Low
Top: drought
Storm events since 1996
543
Most often hail
Flood insurance policies
5
0.1% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
84° / 10°F
34.8 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone47 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Madison County, IA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
37.2%
U.S. 33.3% +3.9 pts
Diabetes
10.5%
U.S. 12.1% -1.6 pts
Smoking
14.2%
U.S. 12.8% +1.4 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
5.9%
U.S. 11.1% -5.2 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Madison County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Madison County, IA?
- Winterset is the largest city or town in Madison County, with about 5,416 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Madison County?
- Madison County includes 11 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 50033, 50061, 50072, 50155, 50218.
- What is the population of Madison County, IA?
- About 16,926 people live in Madison County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Madison County?
- Madison County borders Polk County, Dallas County, Warren County, Union County, Guthrie County, Clarke County, Adair County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023