Madison County
ID · Pop. 53,578 · Mixed County
Madison County, Idaho covers 469 square miles with a population of 53,578 and a density of 114.2 people per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated strong, built on wheat, barley, potatoes. A median home price of $365,000 and an effective property tax rate of 0.5% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 5a with a 131-day growing season, average summer highs of 80°F and average winter lows of 13.6°F. Annual rainfall averages 13.4 inches, generally adequate for the region's crops and pasture. Madison Memorial Hospital is 6.2 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 100% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is high, wildfire risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A low effective property tax rate of 0.5% holds annual carrying costs down.
- Broadband reaches 100% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- Madison Memorial Hospital, with an emergency room, is just 6.2 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
- A strong agricultural economy built on wheat, barley, potatoes means local markets, equipment, and know-how are in place.
- A low unemployment rate of 3.7% reflects a stable local job base.
Cons
- Wildfire risk is very high, requiring defensible space, fire-resistant construction, and an evacuation plan.
- A 131-day growing season limits crop diversity and calls for season-extension tools.
- Annual rainfall of just 13.4 inches means irrigation and water storage are core requirements.
- A median home price of $365,000 raises the cost of entry relative to more affordable rural markets.
- A poverty rate of 26.8% reflects a constrained local economy with limited off-farm income options.
At a glance
Madison County, ID is a challenging place to homestead on the data.
- Homestead score
- 36/100
- Median home price
- $365k
- Property tax
- 0.5%
- Growing season
- 131 days (zone 5a)
- Annual rainfall
- 13.4"
- Broadband
- 100%
- Nearest hospital
- Madison Memorial Hospital, 6.2 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Madison County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Madison County?
- Madison County is in USDA hardiness zone 5a with a 131-day growing season, average summer highs of 80°F, and average winter lows of 13.6°F. The established crops are wheat, barley, potatoes.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $365,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.5%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 100% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Madison Memorial Hospital is 6.2 miles away and includes an emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.
Explore Idaho Resources
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LandWatch
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AcreTrader
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More counties in Idaho
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The closest counties to Madison County by distance, including across state lines.
Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
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