Madison County

Madison County is located in southwestern Illinois along the Mississippi River, directly east of St. Louis, Missouri, and forms part of the Metro East region of the greater St. Louis metropolitan area. Created in 1812 and named for President James Madison, it developed early as a river- and rail-connected agricultural and industrial corridor. With a population of about 260,000, it is among the larger counties in Illinois by residents and includes a mix of urban, suburban, and rural communities. Major population centers include Edwardsville, Alton, and Granite City, while outlying areas remain largely agricultural. The county’s economy reflects its metropolitan setting, combining manufacturing and logistics with health care, education, retail, and services. Its landscape ranges from Mississippi River floodplain and bluffs to upland farmland and small towns, with transportation corridors such as Interstate 55 and Interstate 70 shaping development. The county seat is Edwardsville.

Madison County is located in southwestern Illinois along the Mississippi River, forming part of the St. Louis metropolitan area (Metro East). The county seat is Edwardsville, and county services and planning information are provided through the Madison County official website.

Population Size

According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Madison County, Illinois, Madison County had an estimated population of 262,028 (2023). The same Census Bureau profile reports a 2020 Census population of 262,966.

Age & Gender

From the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts profile (latest available 5-year ACS measures as presented in QuickFacts):

• Age distribution (share of total population)

  • Under 18: 21.4%
  • 65 and over: 17.6%

• Gender

  • Female persons: 51.4%
  • Male persons: 48.6% (calculated as remainder to 100% from the same profile)

Racial & Ethnic Composition

According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts profile:

• Race (alone unless noted)

  • White: 78.3%
  • Black or African American: 13.9%
  • American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.4%
  • Asian: 1.6%
  • Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander: 0.1%
  • Two or more races: 5.7%

• Ethnicity

  • Hispanic or Latino (of any race): 3.4%

Household & Housing Data

From the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts profile:

• Households

  • Total households: 108,062
  • Average household size: 2.36 persons

• Housing

  • Total housing units: 118,796
  • Owner-occupied housing unit rate: 69.2%
  • Median value of owner-occupied housing units: $165,800
  • Median gross rent: $950

Madison County, Illinois combines dense suburbs near St. Louis with more rural communities, so digital communication access varies with local broadband buildout and household connectivity. Direct county-level email usage statistics are generally not published; broadband and device access serve as proxies for likely email adoption.

Digital access indicators (proxy for email use)

The U.S. Census Bureau (data.census.gov) and its American Community Survey provide county measures for household computer ownership and broadband subscriptions, which track the practical ability to maintain email accounts and use webmail or email apps.

Age and gender distribution

County age structure from the U.S. Census Bureau is relevant because older age groups typically show lower rates of home broadband/device adoption than working-age adults, influencing overall email access through availability and comfort with online services. Gender composition is available in the same sources but is less directly tied to infrastructure-based access than age and income.

Connectivity and infrastructure limitations

Broadband gaps are most likely in lower-density areas and where last‑mile infrastructure is limited; national broadband availability datasets such as the FCC National Broadband Map are commonly used to locate these constraints.

County context (location, settlement pattern, and connectivity-relevant characteristics)

Madison County is in southwestern Illinois within the St. Louis metropolitan region (the Illinois side of the metro area), anchored by communities such as Edwardsville, Alton, Granite City, and Collinsville. The county includes both dense, urbanized municipalities along major transportation corridors and lower-density townships and agricultural areas toward the county’s interior and edges. Terrain is generally low-relief Midwestern landscape with river bluffs and floodplain features near the Mississippi River; land cover and development patterns (denser river-corridor cities versus more rural townships) are primary drivers of mobile network build-out intensity and observed service performance. Official geography and population profiles are available through the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Madison County, Illinois.

Data scope and limitations (county-level versus broader-area statistics)

County-specific statistics on “mobile phone penetration” (ownership of a mobile phone) are not consistently published as a single, standardized county indicator in federal datasets. The most comparable county-level measures typically come from the American Community Survey (ACS) as household telephone service and internet subscriptions, which are related to (but not the same as) individual mobile ownership. Network availability and adoption are published using different methods and should not be conflated:

• Network availability: where mobile broadband is reported as offered (coverage maps and availability files).
• Household adoption: whether households subscribe to cellular data plans, fixed broadband, and related services (ACS subscription data).

For Madison County, availability can be assessed using federal broadband mapping, while adoption is best represented by ACS county tables and Illinois broadband planning resources where county breakouts are available.

Network availability (4G/5G) in Madison County vs. adoption

Network availability (reported coverage and service presence)

The primary federal source for mobile broadband availability is the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) broadband mapping program, which publishes provider-reported mobile coverage and related layers. Madison County’s location in a major metro area typically corresponds to broad multi-operator LTE (4G) presence and substantial 5G deployment in population centers; however, precise coverage boundaries and technology layers should be taken from the FCC map rather than inferred from metro status.

• The FCC’s public map provides location-based views of mobile broadband coverage by technology generation and provider. See the FCC National Broadband Map.
• The FCC also provides documentation and data notes that describe how availability is reported and the limitations of provider-submitted coverage polygons. See FCC Broadband Data Collection information.

Key distinction: FCC availability indicates where providers report service as available outdoors (and in some cases in-vehicle) at defined performance thresholds; it does not measure whether residents subscribe, the price paid, indoor signal quality, congestion, or typical speeds at all times.

Household adoption (subscriptions and access)

County-level household adoption for internet access is commonly measured in the ACS through types of internet subscriptions, including cellular data plans. These data reflect household-reported subscription types rather than coverage.

• County profiles and many ACS-derived indicators for Madison County are accessible through Census.gov QuickFacts.
• Detailed ACS tables on internet subscription types (including cellular data plans) are accessible through data.census.gov by selecting Madison County, Illinois, and relevant “Computer and Internet Use” tables.

Key distinction: ACS subscription data describes whether households pay for particular subscription types. A household may have mobile coverage available but not subscribe (cost, preference for fixed broadband, or other factors), or may subscribe but experience variable performance due to signal conditions and network loading.

Mobile penetration or access indicators (where available)

Household telephone service and internet subscription indicators (ACS)

The most consistently available county-level indicators related to mobile access are:

• Households with telephone service available (a broad measure that does not isolate mobile-only households without the associated detailed table).
• Household internet subscription types, which can include:
  • Cellular data plan
  • Cable, fiber, or DSL
  • Satellite or other services

These indicators are available at county scale via data.census.gov (ACS 1-year or 5-year estimates depending on table availability and sample reliability). These are the standard county-level references for adoption, but they do not directly measure individual smartphone ownership.

Local and state broadband planning context (Illinois)

Illinois maintains statewide broadband planning resources that may include county summaries, digital equity materials, and program dashboards. These state sources can provide contextual adoption and infrastructure indicators, sometimes aligned to county geographies.

• Illinois broadband and digital equity planning information is available through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) (broadband-related pages and publications vary by program year).
• Additional statewide broadband context and mapping is often maintained through state broadband initiatives and reporting linked from DCEO or Illinois’ broadband program pages.

Mobile internet usage patterns (4G vs. 5G availability and typical use considerations)

4G LTE

In U.S. metropolitan counties, LTE typically provides the broadest baseline geographic reach, including indoor coverage in built-up areas where mid-band and low-band spectrum is deployed. In Madison County, LTE availability is most reliably assessed through provider layers on the FCC National Broadband Map. LTE remains widely used for routine smartphone traffic (messaging, web, streaming) and for mobility outside dense 5G footprints.

5G (coverage presence versus experienced performance)

The FCC map provides 5G availability layers reported by providers, but it does not directly convey:

• indoor signal strength,
• street-level variability,
• congestion at peak periods,
• device compatibility and spectrum bands in use.

In practice, 5G availability in suburban and urban parts of Madison County is generally expected to be strongest along population corridors and major roadways, with more variable presence in lower-density areas. This reflects standard deployment economics rather than county-specific measurement of performance.

Availability vs. usage: Actual 5G usage depends on device ownership (5G-capable phones), plan features, and where residents spend time (home/work/school). County-level published statistics on the share of mobile traffic on 5G versus LTE are not generally available in public government datasets.

Common device types (smartphones vs. other devices)

County-level public datasets generally do not provide a direct, official breakdown of smartphone vs. feature phone ownership. The closest government proxies at county scale are:

• household computer type and internet subscription (ACS),
• household reliance on cellular data plans for internet access (ACS),
• school district or library digital access reports (often not standardized countywide).

For Madison County, device-type discussion is therefore best limited to what can be supported through ACS “computer and internet use” categories and subscription types via data.census.gov. These tables can indicate the prevalence of mobile-only or cellular-plan-reliant households but do not enumerate smartphone models or operating systems.

Demographic and geographic factors influencing mobile usage and connectivity

Urban–suburban–rural gradient within the county

Madison County spans denser municipalities and lower-density townships. This gradient typically influences:

• Network build intensity: more cell sites and small cells in denser areas; fewer sites and larger cell footprints in rural areas.
• Indoor coverage: building density and construction materials in urbanized places can affect indoor reception; rural areas more often face distance-to-tower constraints.
• Backhaul and capacity: higher capacity is more commonly provisioned where demand is concentrated.

These factors affect experienced performance even when coverage is reported as “available.”

Socioeconomic factors associated with adoption (household subscription)

Household adoption of cellular data plans and home internet subscriptions correlates in many U.S. communities with income, age composition, and housing stability. Madison County-specific patterns are best quantified using ACS county tables (internet subscription types, computer access, and selected socioeconomic characteristics) from data.census.gov. This supports analysis of adoption separate from network presence.

Transportation corridors and cross-border metro influences (availability context)

Madison County’s integration into the St. Louis regional economy concentrates coverage and capacity along commuting corridors and commercial centers, which tends to align with higher-density cell deployment. This is a network-availability context point; it does not quantify adoption or device ownership at county scale without ACS subscription tables.

Practical separation of “availability” and “adoption” (summary)

• Availability (supply-side): Mobile 4G/5G coverage is best represented by the FCC National Broadband Map and related FCC technical documentation (FCC Broadband Data Collection).
• Adoption (demand-side): Household subscription to cellular data plans and other internet services is best represented by ACS tables accessed via data.census.gov and summarized county context from Census.gov QuickFacts.
• Device types (smartphone vs. other): Not consistently available as an official county statistic; ACS provides partial proxies through household computing and subscription categories rather than direct smartphone counts.

Core source links (public, non-commercial)

• U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Madison County, Illinois
• data.census.gov (ACS tables for internet subscriptions and computer access)
• FCC National Broadband Map (mobile availability layers)
• FCC Broadband Data Collection (methodology and limitations)
• Illinois DCEO (state broadband and digital equity planning resources)

Madison County is part of the St. Louis metropolitan area in southwestern Illinois, anchored by communities such as Edwardsville, Alton, and Granite City. Its mix of suburban commuter neighborhoods, higher‑education influence (Southern Illinois University Edwardsville), and cross‑river economic ties to St. Louis tends to align local digital and social media behavior with broader Midwest/large‑metro U.S. patterns rather than with rural Illinois averages.

User statistics (penetration and overall activity)

• County-specific social-media penetration figures are not routinely published in major public datasets; most reliable measurement is available at national and state levels rather than by county.
• For context, U.S. adult social media use is ~70% (share who say they ever use social media), based on the Pew Research Center social media fact sheet. Madison County’s suburban/metro profile generally tracks this national baseline more closely than lower-connectivity rural areas.
• Social media activity is closely tied to internet and smartphone access; national benchmarks from Pew show smartphone adoption is widespread among adults, supporting high potential reach across major platforms (see Pew Research Center mobile fact sheet).

Age group trends

National patterns that typically explain local usage in metro counties:

• 18–29: highest social media participation; also the most likely to use multiple platforms.
• 30–49: high usage, often concentrated on a smaller set of platforms (commonly Facebook, Instagram).
• 50–64: moderate-to-high usage, with stronger tilt toward Facebook.
• 65+: lowest overall usage, but Facebook remains comparatively strong within this group.

These age gradients are consistently documented in Pew’s platform-by-demographics reporting (see the Pew Research Center social media fact sheet).

Gender breakdown

• Across major platforms, gender skews vary more by platform than by overall “any social media use.”
• Pew’s demographic tables show that women are more likely than men to use some platforms (notably Pinterest and, in many years, Instagram), while men are more likely than women to use others (often Reddit and some messaging/discussion services); Facebook tends to be relatively balanced compared with more gender-skewed platforms. Source: Pew Research Center social media fact sheet.

Most-used platforms (with percentages where possible)

County-level platform shares are not available from standard public sources; the most defensible percentages come from national surveys. Recent Pew estimates commonly cited for U.S. adults include:

• YouTube: ~80%+
• Facebook: ~60%+
• Instagram: ~45%–50%
• Pinterest: ~30%–35%
• TikTok: ~30%–35%
• LinkedIn: ~20%–25%
• X (Twitter): ~20%+
• Reddit: ~20%+

These figures vary by survey year and methodology; the most up-to-date values and demographic cross-tabs are maintained in the Pew Research Center social media fact sheet.

Behavioral trends (engagement patterns and platform preferences)

• Short-form video and algorithmic feeds drive high-frequency engagement, especially among younger adults; TikTok and YouTube usage is strongly associated with daily or near-daily sessions in many national studies (Pew platform reporting: Pew Research Center social media fact sheet).
• Facebook remains a key local-information channel in many U.S. communities, used for neighborhood groups, community events, school/sports updates, and local business discovery—patterns that tend to be pronounced in suburban counties within large metros.
• Platform “stacking” is common: younger users frequently combine TikTok/Instagram/YouTube for entertainment and trends, while older cohorts more often prioritize Facebook and YouTube.
• Messaging and sharing behaviors are increasingly private or semi-private (direct messages, group chats, private groups) rather than fully public posting; this shift is widely observed in platform research and reflected in usage studies emphasizing “keeping in touch” and entertainment as primary motivations (Pew background reporting consolidated in the Pew social media fact sheet).

Madison County, Illinois family and associate-related public records are primarily maintained by county offices and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). The Madison County Clerk (Vital Records) handles certified copies of local vital records, including birth and death certificates, and issues marriage licenses and provides certified marriage records. Divorce records are typically filed through the circuit court and may be obtained via the Madison County Circuit Clerk (case records and certified copies). Adoption records are governed by Illinois confidentiality rules and are generally not public; access is managed through state processes rather than open county databases.

Public-facing databases in Madison County commonly include court case search and recorded documents rather than searchable birth/death indexes. Property ownership and related associate-linked filings are available through the Madison County Recorder (recorded deeds, liens, and other instruments) and parcel information through the Supervisor of Assessments.

Access methods include online portals where offered by the Circuit Clerk/Recorder, and in-person requests at the relevant office for certified copies. Illinois vital records (birth and death) are subject to statutory access restrictions, with certified copies generally limited to eligible requesters; non-certified genealogical access is limited and varies by record type and age.

Types of records available

Marriage records

• Marriage licenses and marriage certificates/returns: Licenses are issued prior to the ceremony; the officiant’s completed return is filed after the ceremony and forms the basis for the county’s marriage record.
• Certified and non-certified copies: Certified copies are commonly used for legal purposes; informational (non-certified) copies may be available depending on office policy and statutory limits.

Divorce records

• Divorce case files and judgments: Divorce actions are maintained as court case records and typically include a Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage (final decree) and related pleadings and orders.
• Divorce verifications: A short-form verification or certificate of disposition may be available in some contexts, but the definitive record is the court’s judgment and docket.

Annulment records

• Invalidity/annulment case records: Annulments are also maintained as circuit court case records (often titled as a petition for Declaration of Invalidity of Marriage) with an order/judgment resolving the case.

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Where records are filed and how they can be accessed

Marriage records (county vital records)

• Filing location: Marriage licenses are issued and marriage returns are filed with the Madison County Clerk (the county’s local vital records office for marriages).
• Access methods:
  • In person: Requests are handled by the Madison County Clerk’s office for certified copies and other allowable record products.
  • By mail or other clerk-approved methods: The Clerk’s office typically provides written request procedures, required identification, and fees.
  • State-level access: The Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records maintains statewide vital records services; marriage records are generally managed primarily at the county level for issuance and local copies.

Divorce and annulment records (court records)

• Filing location: Divorce and annulment cases are filed and maintained by the Madison County Circuit Court (Circuit Clerk as custodian of court records).
• Access methods:
  • Court records requests: Copies of judgments, docket sheets, and case documents are obtained through the Circuit Clerk’s records services.
  • Case search and file review: Availability of online case summaries varies; full-document access often requires direct request and may be limited by sealing and confidentiality rules.

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Typical information included in these records

Marriage licenses/certificates (county clerk records)

Common fields include:

• Full names of the parties (including prior/maiden names where collected)
• Dates of birth/ages, and places of birth (varies by form and era)
• Current addresses and county/state of residence
• Date the license was issued and date/place of marriage
• Officiant’s name/title and certification/return information
• Witness information (where required/recorded)
• License number and filing date

Divorce decrees/judgments (circuit court records)

Common elements include:

• Case caption (names of parties), case number, and filing/entry dates
• Findings and grounds/basis under Illinois dissolution statutes (format varies by time period)
• Orders on:
  • Dissolution itself (termination of marriage)
  • Allocation of parental responsibilities and parenting time (where applicable)
  • Child support, spousal maintenance, and related financial obligations (where applicable)
  • Division of marital property and allocation of debts
  • Restoration of former name (where requested and granted)
• Incorporation or approval of marital settlement agreements and parenting plans (where applicable)

Annulment/invalidity orders (circuit court records)

Common elements include:

• Case caption, case number, and dates
• Legal basis for invalidity under Illinois law
• Orders addressing status of the parties and related relief (property, support, and parentage issues where applicable)

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Privacy or legal restrictions

Marriage records

• Vital records controls: Certified copies are generally limited to eligible requesters under Illinois vital records practices and office policy, with identification requirements and fees.
• Identity theft and fraud prevention: Some data elements may be redacted or restricted on public-facing copies, depending on the record format and governing rules.

Divorce and annulment records

• Public access with exceptions: Court records are generally public, but access can be restricted by:
  • Sealing orders entered by the court
  • Confidential information rules (e.g., Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, minors’ information), which may require redaction or limit dissemination
  • Protected family case information in specific circumstances (e.g., certain sensitive filings, evaluations, or reports)
• Certified copies: Certified copies of judgments are available through the Circuit Clerk, subject to standard court record certification procedures and any sealing/confidentiality constraints.

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Practical distinction in custody and recordkeeping

• Marriage: Maintained primarily as a county vital record by the Madison County Clerk (license/return-based record).
• Divorce/annulment: Maintained as a court case record by the Madison County Circuit Court (orders and judgments within a case file).

Madison County is in southwestern Illinois, bordering the Mississippi River across from the St. Louis metropolitan area (Missouri). The county includes a mix of older industrial river communities (e.g., Alton, Granite City), fast-growing suburban areas near interstates (e.g., Edwardsville/Glen Carbon), and rural townships. Population and commuting patterns are strongly influenced by the bi-state St. Louis labor market. (This summary relies on the most widely used public datasets for county profiles—primarily the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey and federal labor statistics; where a countywide measure is not published in a single table, a proxy is noted.)

Education Indicators

Public schools (counts and names)

• Madison County is served by multiple public school districts (unit and elementary/high school districts) rather than a single countywide system. A single authoritative “county total” of public schools with a complete school-name list is most reliably obtained from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) directory and report cards; this list changes periodically due to consolidations and building-level changes.
• The most defensible countywide approach is to use:
  • ISBE’s district/school directory and report-card exports for the current roster of public schools and official school names: Illinois School Report Card (ISBE) and ISBE Report Card data downloads.
• Commonly recognized public districts serving Madison County communities include (non-exhaustive; district boundaries can extend beyond municipal boundaries):
  • Edwardsville CUSD 7, Granite City CUSD 9, Alton CUSD 11, Collinsville CUSD 10, Triad CUSD 2, Highland CUSD 5, Roxana CUSD 1, Bethalto CUSD 8, Jersey CUSD 100 (partially), and several smaller districts.

Student–teacher ratios and graduation rates

• Student–teacher ratio: The most consistently published, comparable ratio at the county level is the ACS “students per teacher” measure for school enrollment (a proxy rather than an administrative staffing ratio). County-specific ratios should be taken from the U.S. Census Bureau’s ACS tables and compared to district administrative ratios on ISBE report cards.
  • Source for county ACS education tables: data.census.gov.
• Graduation rates: Illinois publishes 4-year cohort graduation rates at the high school/district level through ISBE. Madison County does not have a single countywide graduation rate because high schools are managed by multiple districts; the most recent rates are therefore best summarized by district and high school on the ISBE report card site.
  • Source: Illinois School Report Card.

Adult education levels (countywide)

• Countywide adult attainment is best represented using the ACS (population age 25+). Madison County typically aligns with a “metro-adjacent” Midwestern profile: a majority holding a high school diploma or higher, and a smaller (but substantial) share holding a bachelor’s degree or higher, with higher degree attainment concentrated in the Edwardsville area (influenced by Southern Illinois University Edwardsville).
• Most recent county estimates and exact percentages for:
  • High school graduate or higher (25+)
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher (25+) are available via ACS educational attainment tables on data.census.gov (commonly Table S1501).

Notable programs (STEM, CTE, AP)

• Program availability varies by district/high school and is most reliably documented in district curricula and ISBE report cards rather than a county aggregate.
• Common offerings across larger Madison County high schools include:
  • Advanced Placement (AP) course sequences and dual-credit/dual-enrollment partnerships.
  • Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways (often including health sciences, manufacturing/industrial technology, information technology, construction trades, and business/marketing), with some programs connected to regional employers and community college pipelines.
  • STEM coursework (engineering/PLTW-style sequences in some districts; lab sciences and computer science offerings vary by school).
• Countywide postsecondary and workforce training is anchored by:
  • Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) (major regional higher-education and research institution).
  • Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC) (technical training, workforce programs, and transfer pathways serving the metro region).

School safety measures and counseling resources (typical practices; district-level variation)

• District-specific safety and student-support practices are published in local board policies and student handbooks; there is no single countywide standard.
• Commonly documented measures in Madison County districts (consistent with statewide norms) include:
  • Controlled building access (locked exterior doors, visitor check-in), camera systems, and coordination with local law enforcement.
  • Mandated emergency drills and updated emergency operations plans aligned with Illinois school safety requirements.
  • Student support services such as school counselors, social workers, psychologists (availability typically varies by enrollment and staffing), and referral pathways for behavioral health supports.
• Primary references for verifying district-by-district staffing and supports:
  • ISBE Report Cards (staffing categories are commonly reported).
  • Individual district handbook/policy pages (not standardized countywide).

Employment and Economic Conditions

Unemployment rate (most recent year available)

• The most recent official unemployment figures are published through the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS), typically available as monthly values and annual averages. Madison County’s unemployment rate is best cited from BLS/LAUS or Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) county tables.
• Sources:
  • BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS)
  • Illinois Department of Employment Security labor market information

Major industries and employment sectors

• Madison County’s employment base reflects a blend of:
  • Manufacturing and industrial operations (notably in/near Granite City and river-adjacent industrial corridors).
  • Transportation and warehousing/logistics, supported by interstate access and the broader St. Louis freight network.
  • Health care and social assistance (major regional employer category typical of U.S. counties).
  • Retail trade, accommodation and food services, and local government/education (including schools and public administration).
  • Higher education (SIUE is a significant institutional employer in the Edwardsville area).
• County sector shares and counts are available through ACS industry tables and Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) local area data:
  • ACS industry and class-of-worker tables (data.census.gov)
  • BEA county employment data

Common occupations and workforce breakdown

• Occupational distribution in Madison County generally matches large metro-adjacent counties, with significant employment in:
  • Office/administrative support
  • Sales
  • Production (manufacturing)
  • Transportation/material moving
  • Healthcare practitioners and support
  • Education/training/library (driven by school systems and higher education)
  • Construction and maintenance trades
• The most current county-level occupation shares are available via ACS occupation tables (e.g., Table S2401) on data.census.gov.

Commuting patterns and mean commute time

• Madison County functions as part of the St. Louis commuting shed. A substantial share of residents commute to job centers both within the county (Edwardsville, Granite City, Alton, Collinsville area) and across the river into Missouri (St. Louis City and St. Louis County).
• The standard county measure is mean travel time to work (minutes) from the ACS. The most recent value is available on data.census.gov (commuting tables such as S0801). In metro-adjacent counties of this type, mean commutes commonly fall in the mid‑20s minutes, with longer commutes for cross-river or exurban trips; the ACS provides the definitive county estimate.

Local employment versus out-of-county work

• County-to-county worker flows are best measured using:
  • U.S. Census OnTheMap (LEHD), which reports where residents work versus where workers live and provides origin-destination commuting patterns.
• For Madison County, OnTheMap typically shows notable out-commuting into Missouri counties (especially St. Louis County) and St. Louis City, alongside internal commuting within Madison County municipalities.

Housing and Real Estate

Homeownership rate and rental share

• Madison County’s owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied split is measured by the ACS (Table DP04 and related housing tables). The county typically shows a majority owner-occupied stock, with higher renter concentrations near SIUE/Edwardsville and in some older river-city neighborhoods.
• Definitive county percentages: ACS housing occupancy (data.census.gov).

Median property values and recent trends

• Median value of owner-occupied housing units is published in the ACS (DP04). This is the most consistent countywide statistic.
• Trend context (proxy where multi-year local series is needed): Like many Midwestern metro-adjacent counties, values rose notably during 2020–2022 and then moderated as interest rates increased; the ACS 1-year/5-year series provides the official county medians over time.
• Source: ACS median home value (DP04).

Typical rent prices

• Median gross rent is published by the ACS (DP04). Rents typically run higher in areas closer to SIUE and newer suburban multifamily developments, and lower in older housing submarkets.
• Source: ACS median gross rent (DP04).

Types of housing

• Housing stock is mixed:
  • Single-family detached homes dominate many suburban and rural parts of the county.
  • Older single-family and small multifamily structures are common in established river towns and legacy industrial communities.
  • Apartments and newer multifamily are more concentrated in the Edwardsville/Glen Carbon corridor and other nodes with retail/services access.
  • Rural lots and agricultural-edge housing occur outside the main municipalities.
• Housing-type shares (single-unit vs. multi-unit, year built, vacancy) are available in ACS DP04 on data.census.gov.

Neighborhood characteristics (schools, amenities)

• Proximity patterns generally reflect municipal form:
  • Suburban neighborhoods near Edwardsville/Glen Carbon often have closer access to schools, parks, and newer retail corridors.
  • River-city neighborhoods (Alton/Granite City) show denser street grids with closer proximity to legacy commercial corridors and older school buildings, alongside greater variation in housing condition by block.
  • Rural townships typically have longer distances to schools and services, with greater dependence on driving.
• For mapped school locations and attendance boundaries, district GIS/transportation pages and municipal planning resources provide the most direct documentation; countywide, school locations can be verified through ISBE directories and district websites.

Property tax overview (rates and typical homeowner cost)

• Illinois property taxes are high by national standards, and the effective rate varies substantially by municipality, school district, and overlapping taxing districts. Madison County bills reflect the heavy role of school funding in local tax levies.
• The most defensible “average homeowner cost” measures are:
  • Median real estate taxes paid (ACS) for owner-occupied housing units.
  • Effective tax rates and parcel-level bills from the Madison County Treasurer/assessment system (authoritative for local bills).
• Sources:
  • ACS median real estate taxes paid (housing cost tables)
  • Madison County Treasurer (property tax billing/payment information; parcel-level detail depends on the county system)
  • Madison County Supervisor of Assessments (assessment information and exemptions)

Data availability note: Countywide “number of public schools,” “student–teacher ratio,” and “graduation rate” are not published as a single consolidated Madison County statistic across all districts in one official table; the most recent and defensible approach is to cite ISBE school/district report-card values for each district/high school and use ACS for countywide demographic education indicators.