Madison County, Idaho Real Estate

Madison County Economy & Jobs

Brigham Young University-Idaho in Rexburg is the county's defining institution and largest driver of growth, shaping its housing market, businesses and young population; the 2020 Census put the county's median age at just 23.1 years. Madison Memorial Hospital, a nonprofit founded in 1951 that now employs more than 800 people, serves Madison, Jefferson, Fremont, Clark and neighboring counties and is the nearest hospital to Yellowstone National Park. Agriculture, especially potatoes and grain on the surrounding farmland, remains an important part of the county economy.

History of Madison County

The area was settled by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and before 1913 it was part of Fremont County. Madison County was created on February 18, 1913, and named for President James Madison. Ricks College, named for early settler Thomas E. Ricks, grew into the four-year Brigham Young University-Idaho. On June 5, 1976, the failure of the nearby Teton Dam sent floodwater through Rexburg, Sugar City and the surrounding farmland, and the county was declared a national disaster area before the communities rebuilt.

Towns & Communities in Madison County

Madison County's population is concentrated in Rexburg, with smaller communities in the farm country around it.

• Rexburg — The county seat and home of BYU-Idaho, with neighborhoods near campus and downtown and a steady supply of newer subdivisions on the edges of the city.
• Sugar City — A small city just northeast of Rexburg, rebuilt after the 1976 Teton Dam flood, with its own Sugar-Salem schools and a quieter, small-town setting.
• Archer — A rural farming area south of Rexburg where buyers find homes on acreage and agricultural ground close to town.

Popular Subdivisions in Madison County

Neighborhoods in Madison County with several homes or lots on the market right now:

Schools in Madison County

Madison School District 321 serves Rexburg and most of the county, including Madison High School. Sugar-Salem Joint School District 322 serves Sugar City and the Salem area, and small portions of the county fall within the Fremont and Jefferson County districts. Brigham Young University-Idaho gives the county a higher-education presence unusual for a community its size.

Commute & Getting Around

U.S. Highway 20 runs through Madison County, connecting Rexburg south to Rigby and Idaho Falls in roughly 30 minutes and north to Saint Anthony, Ashton and West Yellowstone. Idaho Falls Regional Airport is the closest commercial airport. Most of the county's homes are within a short drive of Rexburg's shopping, services and the BYU-Idaho campus.

Recreation & Outdoors in Madison County

The Henry's Fork and the Teton River meet in Madison County, and both are well known for trout fishing. Rexburg is a convenient base for trips to Yellowstone National Park and the mountains to the east, and the Saint Anthony Sand Dunes are a short drive north. In town, BYU-Idaho's concerts and athletic events, the Rexburg Rapids water park and the Legacy Flight Museum add to the calendar.

Land, Acreage & Horse Property in Madison County

Outside Rexburg, Madison County is largely irrigated farm ground, and acreage listings range from small parcels near town to working farms. Because the county is small and growing, land close to Rexburg is often in demand for new construction. Horse property is only labeled on Valorie's List when the MLS reports livestock permitted, so review zoning, water rights and irrigation shares with any acreage purchase.

Cost of Living & Home Prices in Madison County

Madison County prices are shaped by BYU-Idaho and steady population growth; the county grew from 37,536 residents in 2010 to 52,913 in 2020, a 41 percent increase. That growth supports ongoing new construction around Rexburg and Sugar City. See the market snapshot on this page for current figures from active Snake River MLS listings.