The City of Madison is a growing community that attracts families and young professionals looking for a mix of rural and urban living. “When I moved to Madison in ’93, it was just an old cotton farming community,” says Terri Cote, a longtime Realtor with Keller Williams Realty Huntsville. “We all thought it was the biggest deal when the Kroger was built because there was really nothing else here.” Today, the city is a thriving mini-metropolis with just over 60,000 residents and one of the best school districts in Alabama. Madison sits about 15 miles west of Huntsville, making it easy for folks to access major employers at Redstone Arsenal and Cummings Research Park. Although new homes and commercial developments “have been popping up all over Madison these last few years,” Cote says, “We’re still getting more and more people moving here every day.”
The Mill Creek Greenway has a wide, paved trail, that is excellent for walking or biking.
Palmer Park is the place for Baseball and Softball in Monrovia Alabama.
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Master-planned communities popping up in Madison
Homes in Madison are slightly more expensive than those in Huntsville, with the average sale price at about $415,000 in 2024. “People are willing to pay a premium for the school system here,” Cote says. While it’s been a seller’s market for the past few years, Cote says, “We’re transitioning towards an even market.” New homes and master-planned communities are popping up all across the city, especially on the outskirts of town. As of December 2024, she says Madison had 542 properties for sale, as opposed to just 252 in December 2021.
New Traditional houses in modern subdivisions typically list between $300,000 and $550,000 throughout the city. Some older ranch-style homes on the rural outskirts of town fall within the $200,000 range, while the larger new builds can range anywhere from $600,000 to about $1 million. Brand-new two-story townhomes in the Town Madison and Clift Farm communities cost about $250,000 to $500,000. Older townhomes and condos can fall within the $100,000 range.
There is a New Orleans themed subdivision of homes in Madison.
In the Lake Forest Neighborhood of Huntsville there are a large number of town homes.
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Home to the No. 1 school district in Huntsville
According to Niche, the Madison City School system ranks as the No. 1 district in the Huntsville area. It earns an A-plus rating and serves about 10,000 students. The district has seven elementary schools, three middle schools and two high schools. Bob Jones and James Clemens High Schools each received gold medal awards in the 2024 U.S. News and World Report list of "Best High Schools in America." With all schools scoring an A or higher, Superintendent Dr. Ed Nichols says that no matter where kids live in Madison, "they are zoned for a quality school."
Madison is home to some of the highest ranking schools in the state of Alabama.
Bob Jones High School is the top rated high school in Madison County.
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Restaurants at Town Madison
Two large-scale commercial developments broke ground on the north and south sides of Madison in 2018. Clift Farm is a luxury master-planned community with a central retail village. Located off U.S. Highway 72, the area has dozens of restaurant chains, local sports bars and a farmers' market open every day of the week. Town Madison is a multi-use complex surrounding Toyota Field, where Huntsville's AA minor league baseball team, the Trash Pandas, plays each spring. Top-rated hotels and Alabama's only BJ's Wholesale Club border the ballpark's west side. Meanwhile, J. Alexander's, The Yard Milkshake Bar and other chain restaurants are further east. A handful of locally-owned shops and the Old Black Bear Brewing Company line up along Main Street in Madison's historic downtown district.
There is a retail area of Town Madison in the Lake Forest area of Huntsville Alabama.
Goodland Pour House serves food and brews to residents of Madison.
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Minor league baseball games and concerts at Toyota Field
Most of the city’s 500 acres of parks and hiking trails are found between Interstate 565 and U.S. Route 72. Dublin and Palmer parks in the central and southern ends of town are the largest areas for activities like kids’ soccer. Just south of Interstate 565, Toyota Field hosts the local Double-A Rocket City Trash Pandas baseball team, whose popularity has grown so much that their merchandise sells overseas. The 7,500-seat ballpark also holds concerts featuring tribute bands and well-known musicians like country singer John Anderson. A new community senior center with spaces for art, pottery and music is slated to open by fall 2024.
Lots happing at Toyota Field located in Edgewater Alabama.
Catch a Huntsville Trash Pandas Minor League Baseball game at Toyota Field in Huntsville.
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Holiday events held at Dublin Park
Holiday events are held downtown along Main Street and inside Dublin Park. Every spring, kids up to age 10 hunt eggs at one of Dublin Park's soccer fields and pose for pictures with the Easter Bunny at the city's Easter Egg Stravaganza. During the Christmas Parade, neighbors watch decorated floats stroll through Main Street. Towards the southern end of town, Home Place Park hosts a summer concert series of local classic rock bands and Opera in the Park during September.
Follow I-565 to Redstone Arsenal and Cummings Research Park
U.S. Highway 72 and Interstate 565 border the north and south ends of Madison. Commuters follow I-565 about 10 miles east to reach Redstone Arsenal and Cummings Research Park in Huntsville. Madison Hospital, a Huntsville Hospital Health System affiliate, is just off Highway 72. It sits 10 miles east of Interstate 65, which directly links to Nashville and Birmingham. Huntsville International Airport offers 14 direct flights to major U.S. cities right across I-565. Though public transit isn't an option here, the 2040 Transportation Master Plan details the city's intent to build trails and bike lanes that link Madison's parks and commercial areas.
The I-565 corridor runs through Lake Forest and connects to downtown Huntsville
Research Park is in the heart of Huntsville and close to everything you could need.
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Crime
According to the Madison Police Department’s most recent annual crime report, the city experienced 106 violent crimes and 1,844 property crimes in 2020. To help prevent crime, Johnny Gandy, Madison’s Police Chief, uses principles of the police department’s Prevention Through Environmental Design program, which includes placing more lights near properties, designing gated communities and encouraging residents to report suspicious activity.
John Thomas, a lifelong North Alabama native, grew up in Decatur before relocating to Huntsville, giving him a deep understanding of the region’s rapid growth and evolving real estate market. With hundreds of successful transactions and a ranking among the top 2% of Berkshire realtors nationwide, John’s approach to buying and selling is simple: his clients’ best interests always come first.
He specializes in existing homes, custom-built homes, new construction, and real estate investment properties, serving communities such as Hartselle, Hampton Cove, Owens Cross Roads, Decatur, Madison, Florence, and Huntsville. In addition to his Alabama expertise, John is also licensed to list and sell properties in Tennessee.
North Alabama is home to key industries, including the Army’s Redstone Arsenal, NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, and Cummings Research Park, along with several Fortune 500 companies and a strong manufacturing, retail, and service sector. Huntsville, in particular, has gained national recognition, recently ranking as the second-best place to live in the United States, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2023-2024 rankings. Known for its thriving job market, low cost of living, and exceptional quality of life, Huntsville and its surrounding areas continue to attract new residents and investors alike.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
