Madison is a small city located in the state of West Virginia. The city has a population of 2,828 residents. At 97%, the majority of the Madison population is White; this is followed by 3% Black and 0% Asian. With an average age of 48 years, Madison residents appear to be older compared to the national average. For seniors and retirees, this city presents itself as a compelling choice.
If you’re considering relocating to any new city, it could be a very discouraging task. However, it could also be a positive experience if you are willing to get to know the area before actually living in Madison, West Virginia. When searching for a new neighborhood, several key items should be considered. Safety is of utmost importance, ensuring a secure environment with low crime. Proximity to your workplace or school helps reduce commuting time and offers convenience. Access to amenities such as parks, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities enhances your daily life. Public transportation options contribute to easy mobility. A sense of community fosters a supportive and engaging environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere should align with your desired lifestyle, ensuring a fulfilling living experience. Considering these items will guide you towards finding the perfect neighborhood that fits all your needs. Finding the best places to live in Madison and nearby areas is a much easier task when you can rely on information and data from the livability score, which includes amenities, cost of living, employment and other important metrics.
Madison has a livability score of 57 out of 100 and is ranked #243 in West Virginia and #21,432 in the USA. This score ranks well below the United States average. With such a low livability score, it might be worth investigating a little further. For each of the livability categories, we see that Madison ranks very well for crime (B), cost of living (A+) and housing (A-). Madison does not do well for the following: amenities (F), education (F) and employment (F). It might be wise to take a closer look at each category to find out why.
Low rates of violent crime, encompassing offenses such as murder, rape, robbery and assault, contribute significantly to a safer living environment. This reduction in crime minimizes the chances of personal harm, property theft, or violent incidents. Furthermore, low crime rates can have a positive impact on property values and the overall desirability of an area. There were 186 crimes per 100,000 residents, which signifies that Madison boasts an impressively low violent crime rate that falls well below the national average.
A healthy real estate market serves as a key economic indicator. It could signify overall local economic strength, stability and reflects consumer confidence in the area. Based on multiple factors including: median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability, Madison has received high marks in the housing category. Based on these calculations, the apartment rental and real estate market appears to be very healthy.
Assuming that Madison meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Madison. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Madison are simply unattainable. The median home price for Madison homes is $207,863, which is 8.2% higher than the West Virginia average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Madison, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 3.4, which is 9.7% higher than the West Virginia average.
| Statistic | Madison | West Virginia | National |
| Average one way commute | 22min | 26min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 83.7% | 82.0% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 1.1% | 9.9% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 0.0% | 0.9% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 13.2% | 2.9% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 2.0% | 3.1% | 4.6% |
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