Madrid 79 Exceptional
Madrid Livability #97 ranked city in Iowa#2,001 ranked city in the USARanks better than 93% of areas
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Local Insights Report

Pros and Cons of Living in Madrid

PROS
  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    Residents in this area benefit from an affordable cost of living. This includes goods and services, transportation, housing, utilities, groceries and healthcare.

  • Crime Crime

    This area is characterized by a crime rate, per 100,000 individuals, that falls well below the national average, indicating its potential as a very safe place to live.

  • Employment Employment

    This area scores extremely well in the employment category. This is primarily due to the combination of low unemployment rates, higher median home income and income per capita.

  • Housing Housing

    The housing category in this area boasts higher than average scores, likely influenced by a positive home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    Earning a high health and safety score depends on factors such as good air quality and the availability of essential health facilities like hospitals, clinics, doctors, and fire stations.

CONS
  • Amenities Amenities

    It appears that many amenities may not be conveniently situated within walking distance, potentially necessitating the use of a vehicle or public transit.

  • Commute Commute

    Commuters in this area may experience longer-than-average work commute times due to limited public transportation access.

What's it like Living in Madrid?

Located in the state of Iowa, Madrid is a smaller city with a population of 2,660 people. If we take a look at the last Census, the vast majority of the population falls within one racial group (99% White). Given that fact, Madrid could be considered less diverse than other cities. Based on an average age of 48, Madrid appears to be well-suited for seniors or retirees as the average age is well above the national average. Long commute times to work can be incredibly frustrating, ranking just behind housework on the list of life's annoyances. If you opt to make Madrid your home, your one-way commute time will typically last around 25 minutes, a duration that aligns with the national average commute time of 26 minutes.

Whether you’re relocating to a new city to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Madrid could be a positive experience compared to other cities in Iowa if you know where to look. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. Using the livability score which includes data from categories like amenities, crime, commute, health & safety, you can easily compare the best places to live in Madrid and also determine if there are any nearby cities that might be a better match for your lifestyle. You can also compare Madrid to Iowa and the national average.

With a livability score of 78/100, Madrid is ranked #2,424 in the United States and #129 in Iowa. Compared to the national average, Madrid ranks among some of the best places to live in the country! Another exciting tidbit, is that Madrid ranks better than 90% of all US cities! If we dig a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that Madrid has higher than average scores for the following: crime (A+), cost of living (A+), education (A-), employment (A-) and housing (A+). Regrettably for Madrid, there are some categories for which it does not score well, this includes: amenities (F).

Unemployment rates can range pretty dramatically from one city to another. Knowing that Madrid has an unemployment rate of 1.8% could mean increased job opportunities with a higher demand for workers. It could also lead to higher wages, as the demand for workers exceeds the availability of jobs. Most importantly, it could be a sign of a healthy and thriving local economy.

Test scores can be a good way to measure a school's academic performance and the proficiency of its students. They can be an important metric in deciding if the local area schools can provide a solid educational system for children. The schools in Madrid have an average test score of 70%, which is well above the US average.

A robust real estate market serves as a crucial economic indicator, reflecting the local area's strength, stability and the confidence of its residents. Madrid excels in the housing sector, scoring high marks based on factors such as median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability. These calculations suggest that the apartment rental and real estate market in the region is exceptionally healthy, highlighting the area's economic vitality and attractiveness to potential homebuyers and renters.

Being close to public transit, grocery stores, parks and other conveniences are all important when weighing your options for a new home in Madrid. Before you determine if any of these amenities are available in the area, you will also want to know if the real estate prices in Madrid are affordable. The median home price for Madrid homes is $248,205, which is 3.4% higher than the Iowa average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Madrid, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 2.5, which is 16.7% lower than the Iowa average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Madrid

See all the best places to live around Madrid

How Do You Rate The Livability In Madrid?

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Compare Madrid, IA Livability

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      Madrid transportation information

      Statistic Madrid Iowa National
      Average one way commute25min19min26min
      Workers who drive to work82.3%80.7%76.4%
      Workers who carpool8.3%8.6%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.2%1.1%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.0%0.5%0.6%
      Workers who walk2.3%3.5%2.8%
      Working from home6.4%4.5%4.6%
      Source: The Madrid, IA data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.