Madison County
NC · Pop. 21,640 · Suburban County
Madison County sits in North Carolina across 450 square miles, home to 21,640 people at 48.1 per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated weak, built on hay, haylage, corn. A median home price of $264,000 and an effective property tax rate of 0.5% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 7a with a 166-day growing season, average summer highs of 83.6°F and average winter lows of 24.2°F. Annual rainfall averages 39.6 inches, generally adequate for the region's crops and pasture. Greeneville Community Hospital is 21.8 miles away, though without an in-county emergency room. Broadband reaches 98.8% 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 98.8% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- A low poverty rate of 11.4% signals a relatively stable local economy.
Cons
- Wildfire risk is very high, requiring defensible space, fire-resistant construction, and an evacuation plan.
- The nearest hospital, Greeneville Community Hospital, is 21.8 miles away, a real consideration for medical needs.
- The agricultural economy is rated weak, so local farm markets, suppliers, and services are limited.
At a glance
Madison County, NC is a solid homesteading option with some tradeoffs.
- Homestead score
- 68/100
- Median home price
- $264k
- Property tax
- 0.5%
- Growing season
- 166 days (zone 7a)
- Annual rainfall
- 39.6"
- Broadband
- 98.8%
- Nearest hospital
- Greeneville Community Hospital, 21.8 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 7a with a 166-day growing season, average summer highs of 83.6°F, and average winter lows of 24.2°F. The established crops are hay, haylage, corn.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $264,000 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 98.8% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Greeneville Community Hospital is 21.8 miles away, without an in-county emergency room.
Explore North Carolina Resources
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LandWatch
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Lands of America
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AcreTrader
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More counties in North Carolina
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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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