Madison County
GA · Pop. 30,914 · Mixed County
Madison County is a mixed rural-suburban county in Georgia, spanning 282 square miles with 30,914 residents at a density of 109.6 people per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated weak, built on hay, wheat, soybeans. A median home price of $199,000 and an effective property tax rate of 0.81% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 8a with a 224-day growing season, average summer highs of 88.4°F and average winter lows of 32.7°F. Annual rainfall averages 48.5 inches, and with drought risk rated high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center is 15.8 miles away, though without an in-county emergency room. Broadband reaches 85.4% of homes. On the hazard side, tornado risk is high, drought risk is high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A long 224-day growing season in USDA zone 8a supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
- A low effective property tax rate of 0.81% holds annual carrying costs down.
- A median home price of $199,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
- A low unemployment rate of 3.1% reflects a stable local job base.
Cons
- The nearest hospital, Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center, is 15.8 miles away, a real consideration for medical needs.
- A poverty rate of 18.9% reflects a constrained local economy with limited off-farm income options.
- The agricultural economy is rated weak, so local farm markets, suppliers, and services are limited.
At a glance
Madison County, GA is a solid homesteading option with some tradeoffs.
- Homestead score
- 58/100
- Median home price
- $199k
- Property tax
- 0.81%
- Growing season
- 224 days (zone 8a)
- Annual rainfall
- 48.5"
- Broadband
- 85.4%
- Nearest hospital
- Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center, 15.8 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 8a with a 224-day growing season, average summer highs of 88.4°F, and average winter lows of 32.7°F. The established crops are hay, wheat, soybeans.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $199,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.81%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 85.4% of homes, so verify service at a specific parcel before purchasing.
- How close is healthcare?
- Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center is 15.8 miles away, without an in-county emergency room.
Explore Georgia Resources
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More counties in Georgia
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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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