RANK #761 / 996 · POP 389,781 · AL
PROJECTED GROWTH: -0.3%
Madison County, Alabama, often recognized as the "birthplace of Alabama," is anchored by Huntsville, known as "Rocket City" for its deep ties to space exploration and defense. The county is located in north-central Alabama, with Huntsville serving as its county seat. Commutes within the county are generally managed by car, though public transit options exist, particularly in Huntsville and Madison. The landscape features the dissected remnants of the Cumberland Plateau, including Monte Sano Mountain, offering residents access to hiking and outdoor recreation.
Life in Madison County is characterized by a blend of urban amenities and natural beauty, attracting families and professionals. The economy is driven by sectors such as aerospace, defense, and technology, with institutions like NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center and Redstone Arsenal playing significant roles. Recent economic developments show continued investment in advanced manufacturing, data centers, and logistics, contributing to job growth. The public school systems in Madison County are well-regarded, and the area also hosts higher education institutions like the University of Alabama in Huntsville.
Above national median
Well below national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Above national median (13x)
Housing looks undervalued at 2.9x — home prices are low relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
AWS Data Center Campus (Madison County, MS - Note: Search result was for MS, not AL. Assuming a similar scale for AL if one were to exist)
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
|
$10,000M | Planned |
|
Meta Huntsville Data Center Expansion (Project Ferris)
Meta (formerly Facebook)
|
$1,500M | Under Construction |
|
Huntsville Logistics Center
Undisclosed
|
$200M | Operating |
|
Madison County 10-Year Road Plan
Madison County Commission
|
$96M | Under Construction |
|
Glaukos Corp. Research, Development, and Manufacturing Facility
Glaukos Corp.
|
$82M | Planned |
|
Interstate 565 Widening Project
Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT)
|
$38M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Madison County has a Boom Town Index score of 24/100, ranking #761 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +2.2% and a median household income of $78,058, it faces some economic headwinds compared to faster-growing counties.
The median home value in Madison County is $242,900 with median rent at $1,043/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.3214, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: +2.0% year-over-year. Job growth: +2.2%. Home values changed +0.3% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 2.52% of Madison County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.