Rents are 13% below what Madison's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,411 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
February. Asking rents in Madison usually run 0.9% below trend in February and 0.8% above it in July, about $24 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Madison is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.
Rent in Madison changed +2.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 48 Alabama cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.3%.
Rent in Madison is 29.7% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 9 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($134,655) is $3,366 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($2,653).
The priciest of 3 ZIP codes in Madison, 35756 ($1,650/mo), costs 29% more than the cheapest, 35758 ($1,281/mo).
Decatur, 16 miles away, rents for 26% less ($1,042/mo), about $4,400 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Madison. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Madison, AL is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 64.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Madison, AL has changed in 5 years
Since 2021, the typical rent in Madison, AL has climbed from $1,227 to $1,411, a 15.0% change over five years. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $105,335 in 2021 to $134,655 more recently. On paper, paychecks moved up faster than rent, which softens the affordability squeeze versus the 2021 baseline. The population has grown by 8.2% since 2021, moving from about 55,551 residents to roughly 60,106. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Madison, AL market of 2021.
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At $1,411/mo, how Madison rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Madison rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Madison. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Madison
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Madison is $1,411/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,253/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,687/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,450/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,173/mo.
At 13% of local median household income ($134,655/yr), Madison ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.4% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Madison?
At $1,411/mo, rent takes ~13% of Madison's median household income ($134,655/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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