Checked
Madison County, NC
3 cities and towns and 3 ZIP codes in Madison County, North Carolina.
Population
21,867
Land area
450sq mi
People per sq mi
49
ZIP codes
3
Cities and towns in Madison County
Madison County at a glance
- Madison County is 78% less dense than North Carolina as a whole.
- Households here earn a median of $58,531 a year, 19% less than the North Carolina figure of $72,388.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $284,600 and median rent is $780 a month.
- The biggest population centers are Mars Hill (3,025), Marshall (961) and Hot Springs (567).
Local data for Madison County, NC
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Madison County, NC, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$58,531
Poverty rate
12.1%
Median home value
$284,600
Prices -5.1% in a year
Median rent
$780/mo
Homeownership
77.5%
Bachelor's or higher
32.2%
Median age
44.5
Average commute
32.7 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Irish Americans (2,859), German Americans (1,966), Scottish Americans (996).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
2.8%
Sep 2026, -1.0 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$49,104
4,351 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$50,927
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$113M
FY 2026, $5,318 per person
PPP loans
$13.8M
284 loans, 2,240 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$145K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Madison County, NC, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone76.3%
- Carpooled9.9%
- Public transit0.1%
- Walked2.3%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.6%
- Worked from home10.7%
Average one-way commute: 32.7 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Madison County, NC, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very Low
Top: landslide
Storm events since 1996
637
Most often winter weather
Flood insurance policies
108
1.0% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
85° / 24°F
41.6 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone12 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Madison County, NC, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
34.6%
U.S. 33.3% +1.3 pts
Diabetes
11.6%
U.S. 12.1% -0.5 pts
Smoking
13.9%
U.S. 12.8% +1.1 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
8.8%
U.S. 11.1% -2.3 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Madison County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Madison County, NC?
- Mars Hill is the largest city or town in Madison County, with about 3,025 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Madison County?
- Madison County includes 3 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 28743, 28753, 28754.
- What is the population of Madison County, NC?
- About 21,867 people live in Madison County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Madison County?
- Madison County borders Buncombe County, Greene County, TN, Haywood County, Cocke County, TN, Yancey County, Unicoi County, TN.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023