Population
22,553
2025
+5.9% since 2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. Resident population, July 1 estimate.
Madison County, NC growth snapshot
Madison County had an estimated 22,553 residents in 2025, up 5.9% (1,261 more people) since 2020. That is slower than North Carolina as a whole (+7.2%), and the 51st fastest growth of 146 counties in the Carolinas.
Data as of 2025 · updated
Headline numbers
Net domestic migration
+177
2025
7.8 per 1,000 residents
+1,724 in total, 2021–2025
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. People moving in from other U.S. counties minus people moving out.
Jobs
4,351
2025
+14.4% since 2020
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025. Average annual employment covered by unemployment insurance.
Average weekly wage
$944
2025
+28.5% since 2020
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025. Average weekly wage, all covered jobs.
Unemployment rate
4.7%
2025
+1.2 pts since 2019
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2025. Annual average unemployment rate.
New homes permitted
117
2025
−26.4% since 2021
5.2 per 1,000 residents
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025. Housing units authorized by building permits in the year.
Median household income
$58,531
2020–24
+26.7% since 2016–20
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–24. American Community Survey 5-year estimate.
Private-sector employment
3,298
2023
+9.4% since 2018
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023. Paid employees of private employers in mid-March (County Business Patterns).
What the numbers say
Net domestic migration added 177 people in 2025: more people moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out.
Employers counted 4,351 jobs in 2025, +14.4% since 2020 (33rd of 146 Carolinas counties for job growth); the average weekly wage was $944.
Unemployment averaged 4.7% in 2025, 1.2 points higher than in 2019 (before the pandemic).
Builders were authorized to start 117 new homes in 2025, or 5.2 per 1,000 residents.
Median household income was $58,531 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, +26.7% since 2016–20.
Across the 3,107 U.S. counties with a comparable estimate, its population growth ranks 507th.
Part of the Asheville, NC metro area.
Madison County population by year
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 22,553 | +87 |
| 2024 | 22,466 | +422 |
| 2023 | 22,044 | +136 |
| 2022 | 21,908 | +169 |
| 2021 | 21,739 | +447 |
| 2020 | 21,292 | – |
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year.
What drove the change in Madison County
Madison County grew by 1,261 people since 2020; the largest part came from domestic migration (+1,724).
| Component | 2025 | 2020–25 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural changebirths minus deaths | −100 | −523 | |
| International migrationfrom and to other countries | +8 | +64 | |
| Domestic migrationfrom and to other U.S. counties | +177 | +1,724 | |
| Census adjustmentbalancing residual | +2 | −4 | |
| Total change | +87 | +1,261 |
Census Bureau population estimates, components of change, each year July 1 to June 30. The components add up to the change in the estimate; the Census adjustment is the small balancing figure the Bureau publishes.
How it ranks
| Measure | In North Carolina | Among U.S. counties |
|---|---|---|
| Population growth | 33rd of 100 | 507th of 3,107 |
| Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents | 49th of 100 | 739th of 3,108 |
| Private-sector job growth | 28th of 100 | 739th of 3,092 |
| Median household income | 59th of 100 | 2,197th of 3,107 |
| Average weekly wage | 69th of 100 | – |
| Lowest unemployment rate | 83rd of 100 | 2,319th of 3,108 |
| New homes permitted per 1,000 residents | 54th of 100 | 580th of 3,005 |
1st = highest (lowest for unemployment). Counties are ranked only against others with a figure for the same period.
Get the full county report — $99
The quarterly County Growth Report for Madison County, NC as a PDF: growth, jobs, wages, permits, announcements, sales where allowed, ranks against peer counties and a methods page. Pay once, no subscription.
See a sample report (PDF) · Other counties and options
Every purchase also includes a CSV of every table in the report, ready for a spreadsheet.
- Not useful? Email us within 14 days for a full refund
- Sold by Simply Stats LLC (NC)
- Secure Stripe checkout (Apple Pay/Google Pay)
- Instant PDF download
- PDF + CSV of every table
Refund terms: Terms. · How we compute every number
Neighbouring counties
Madison County grew faster than all 6 of its neighbouring counties (+5.9%, 2020–25).
3 of its 6 neighbouring counties had a higher median household income than Madison County's $58,531 (2020–24).
| County | Population2025 | Population change2020–25 | Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents2025 | Homes permitted per 1,000 residents2025 | Median household income2020–24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison County, NC This county | 22,553 | +5.9% | 7.8 | 5.2 | $58,531 |
| Buncombe County, NC | 277,417 | +2.9% | −7.4 | 7.3 | $74,436 |
| Unicoi County, TN | 17,856 | −0.1% | 4.5 | 1.6 | $52,218 |
| Yancey County, NC | 19,084 | +3.2% | 5.0 | 5.6 | $58,709 |
| Greene County, TN | 73,831 | +5.0% | 13.7 | 3.7 | $56,194 |
| Cocke County, TN | 37,889 | +5.1% | 12.5 | 0.2 | $48,016 |
| Haywood County, NC | 63,369 | +1.8% | 7.7 | 8.1 | $61,912 |
Census Bureau population estimates and building permits, American Community Survey 5-year income. Rates per 1,000 residents. – means no figure, or a base too small for a change or rate (it would swing on a few people). A figure from another period shows its year and is left out of the comparison.
All 100 North Carolina counties · All Carolinas counties and metros
Questions
What is the population of Madison County?
About 22,553 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.
Is Madison County growing?
Yes. Its population grew 5.9% between 2020 and 2025, about 1,261 more people (Census Bureau population estimates). North Carolina as a whole changed +7.2% over the same years. That ranks 51st of 146 Carolinas counties for population growth.
How many people moved to Madison County?
On net, about 177 people in 2025: that many more moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out (Census Bureau net domestic migration estimate).
How many jobs are in Madison County?
Employers there reported 4,351 jobs covered by unemployment insurance in 2025, +14.4% since 2020 (BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages). The average weekly wage was $944 in 2025.
What is the unemployment rate in Madison County?
It averaged 4.7% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).
How many new homes are being built in Madison County?
Building permits authorized 117 new housing units in 2025, 5.2 per 1,000 residents (Census Bureau Building Permits Survey). Permits count homes authorized, not finished.
What is the median household income in Madison County?
$58,531 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
How does Madison County compare with other North Carolina counties?
Among North Carolina counties it ranks 33rd of 100 for population growth; 49th of 100 for net domestic migration per 1,000 residents; 28th of 100 for private-sector job growth; 59th of 100 for median household income. Nationally it ranks 507th of 3,107 counties for population growth.
See Madison County tract by tract
Beacon CRE maps growth, permits, workforce, flood risk, opportunity zones, listings and recent sales for every county and census tract in the Carolinas, with grades that explain themselves.
Card required, cancel anytime before the trial ends. Prefer an invoice? Request a pilot.
Get the Carolinas CRE Growth Brief
One email a month: the NC and SC counties gaining people, jobs and new homes fastest, with the numbers behind them. Free. Unsubscribe anytime.
Sources and method
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns
Each number shows its own period. Changes compare the latest period with five years earlier (or the earliest period available). Beacon CRE last refreshed these figures on 2026-11-05. Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how we compute every number. More on every layer: data sources and licences.