This is why Businesses & Residents choose Madison!

Madison Ranked 12th in the United States!

Money Magazine


This list keeps growing as we keep getting better and better...

Best of Business!

  • Huntsville metro area ranked #1 for BUSINESS CLIMATE among small metro areas in the U.S, Business Facilities, 2020
  • Huntsville metro area ranked #93 nationally for BEST PLACES FOR BUSINESS & CAREERS AND JOB GROWTH, Forbes, 2019
  • Huntsville Metro area ranked #1 BEST CITIES FOR STEM WORKERS in the U.S,, Livability, 2018.
  • Huntsville Metro area ranked BEST NEW TECH HUB TO LIVE in the U.S., Trulia, 2018.
  • Huntsville Metro (#2 of 381) BEST CITIES FOR TECH JOBS in the U.S., NerdWallet, 2017.
  • Huntsville & Madison identified as AMERICA’S #1 FASTEST-GROWING TECH CITIES, CBS News Moneywatch, 2017.
  • Alabama was awarded the #1 IN THE 3-5M POPULATION CATEGORY FOR THE 2017 SILVER SHOVEL AWARD based on the attraction of high-value investment projects to create new jobs, Area Development, 2017.
  • Alabama is ranked #9 in the Nation for FRIENDLY POLICY ENVIRONMENTS FOR SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP, Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council, 2017.
  • One of the TOP METROS TO “POWER THE U.S. ECONOMY”Bloomberg Business, 2015.
  • Madison named DIGITAL CAPITAL OF ALABAMA, Google, 2013.
  • Alabama is ranked 3rd in the U.S. in the USE OF INDUSTRIAL ROBOTS.
  • TOP 5 locations for ELECTRONICS, COMPUTER HARDWARE, AND MATERIALS ENGINEERS.
  • TOP 5 for SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS.
  • HIGHEST RATIO OF ENGINEERS in the U.S.
  • TOP 57% of the population with a BACHELOR’s DEGREE or HIGHER.
  • Highest ratio of COMPUTER SYSTEMS ANALYSTS and USER SUPPORT SPECIALIST.
  • 5th LARGEST PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM in the U.S.

Best of Schools!

  • Madison (#1 of 136) BEST SCHOOL DISTRICT in Alabama, Niche, 2021
  • Madison City schools (#4 of 136) BEST TEACHERS in Alabama, Niche 2020.
  • James Clemens ranked 819th and Bob Jones High School ranked 820th out of 17,792 as BEST HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE U.S., U.S. News and World Report 2020
  • Bob Jones and James Clemens High Schools (#1 and 2) BEST PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS in the Huntsville Area, Niche 2019.
  • Madison City schools (#1 of 7) BEST PLACES TO TEACH in Huntsville Area, Niche 2019.
  • Madison City schools (#1 of 7) BEST SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR ATHLETES in Huntsville Area, Niche 2019.
  • Madison City schools (#1 of 7) BEST SCHOOL DISTRICT in Huntsville Area, Niche 2019.
  • Madison City schools (#7 of 7) BEST TEACHERS in Huntsville Area, Niche 2019.
  • Madison City schools (#2 of 136) BEST SCHOOL DISTRICT in Alabama, Niche 2019.
  • Madison City schools (#6 of 134) SAFEST SCHOOL DISTRICT in Alabama, Niche 2019.
  • Madison City schools (#9 of 132) BEST PLACES TO TEACH in Alabama, Niche 2019.
  • Madison City Schools (#3 of 136) BEST SCHOOL DISTRICTS in Alabama, Niche 2018.
  • Bob Jones High School (#3 of 353) BEST COLLEGE PREP PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS in Alabama, Niche 2018.
  • Bob Jones High School ranked #1 BEST HIGH SCHOOL FOR ATHLETES in Alabama, AL.com 2018
  • Bob Jones High School ranked (#4 out of 355) as BEST HIGH SCHOOLS in Alabama, U.S. News and World Report 2018.
  • James Clemens High School ranked (#8 out of 355) as BEST HIGH SCHOOLS in Alabama, U.S. News and World Report 2018.
  • Madison (#2 of 194) BEST PUBLIC SCHOOLS in Alabama, Niche, 2018.
  • Madison City Schools (#159 of 10,574) BEST SCHOOL DISTRICT in the Nation, Niche, 2018.
  • Madison City Schools (#141 of 10,576) SAFEST SCHOOL DISTRICT in the Nation, Niche, 2018.
  • Madison City Schools (#3 of 135) BEST SCHOOL DISTRICT in Alabama, Niche, 2018.
  • Madison City Schools (#3 of 132) SAFEST SCHOOL DISTRICT in Alabama, Niche, 2018.
  • Madison City Schools (#5 of 134) DISTRICT WITH THE BEST TEACHERS in Alabama, Niche, 2018.
  • Bob Jones High School receives ALABAMA SAFE SCHOOLS INITIATIVE AWARD OF EXCELLENCE, Alabama Attorney General's Office, 2018.
  • Madison Elementary Schools BEST PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS in Alabama, Niche, 2018.
  • Madison High Schools (#7 of 134) of the TOP ALABAMA FOOTBALL RECRUITS, 247Sports, 2017.
  • Bob Jones High School identified as #2 BEST HIGH SCHOOL in Alabama, Niche 2017.
  • Bob Jones High School receives ALABAMA SAFE SCHOOLS INITIATIVE AWARD OF EXCELLENCE, Alabama Attorney General's Office, 2017.
  • Bob Jones and James Clemens High Schools placed in the top five of Alabama high schools annual MOST CHALLENGING HIGH SCHOOLS, Washington Post 2017.
  • Bob Jones (#7) and James Clemens (#10) High Schools placed in the top 10 of Alabama high schools annual BEST HIGH SCHOOLS IN ALABAMA, U.S. News and World Report 2017.
  • Bob Jones High School ranked (#3 out of 100) BEST HIGH SCHOOL FOR ATHLETES IN ALABAMA, Niche 2017.
  • Madison City Schools (#4 out of 194) BEST PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN ALABAMA, Niche 2017.
  • Madison City Schools receive a 10 OUT OF 10 RATING on Great! Schools,2017.
  • Madison City Schools voted 3rd BEST SCHOOL DISTRICT in Alabama Niche, 2017.
  • Madison City Schools voted 4th SCHOOL DISTRICT WITH BEST TEACHERS in Alabama Niche, 2017.
  • Madison City Schools voted 2nd SAFEST SCHOOL DISTRICT in Alabama Niche, 2017.
  • Madison City Schools voted #1 BEST SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR ATHLETES in Alabama Niche, 2017.
  • Madison City Schools voted 15thMOST DIVERSE SCHOOL DISTRICT in Alabama Niche, 2017.
  • Madison City Schools voted 5th BEST PLACE TO TEACH in Alabama Niche, 2017.
  • Madison City Schools voted 16thLARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT in Alabama Niche, 2017.
  • Overall GRADE OF A+ by Niche, 2017.
  • Madison City schools #1 IN ALABAMA FOR COLLEGE PREPAREDNESS, Niche 2016.
  • Bob Jones High School was ranked 6th BEST HIGH SCHOOL IN ALABAMA by U.S. News, 2016.
  • Madison City schools among the Nation’s TOP PRODUCERS OF NATIONAL MERIT SEMIFINALISTS.
  • Bob Jones High School ranks 3rd IN THE NATION FOR SENDING CADETS TO WEST POINT.
  • Bob Jones High School was ranked in the TOP 1,500 HIGH SCHOOLS IN AMERICA by Newsweek, 2008, 2009
  • Voted #1 SPORTS PROGRAM, Sports Illustrated, 2008.
  • Voted #1 ART PROGRAM IN AMERICA, Scholastic Art and Writing Association, 2008.
  • Ranked TOP 2% OF AMERICA’S HIGH SCHOOLS, U.S. News & World Report, 2008.
  • Ranked TOP 5% OF AMERICA’S HIGH SCHOOLS, Newsweek, 2008, 2007.
  • Madison City Schools PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLAR AWARDS, 2006.

Quality of Life!

  • Madison #12 BEST PLACE TO LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES, Money Magazine, 2021
  • Madison #1 ZIP CODE TO LIVE IN - in Alabama, Niche, 2021
  • Madison (#2 of 281) BEST PLACES TO RAISE A FAMILY in Alabama, Niche, 2021
  • Madison (#1 of 281) BEST PLACES TO BUY A HOUSE in Alabama, Niche, 2021
  • Madison (#122 of 18,516) BEST PLACES TO LIVE in U.S., Niche, 2021
  • Madison BEST CITY TO LIVE in Alabama, Chamber of Commerce.Org, 2019
  • Madison (#1 of 7) BEST PLACE FOR MILLENNIALS in Madison County, Niche, 2018.
  • Madison (#8 of 15,715) BEST PLACES TO BUY A HOUSE in the Nation, Niche, 2018.
  • Madison (#1 of 194) BEST PLACES TO LIVE in Alabama, Niche, 2018.
  • Madison (#1 of 194) BEST PLACES TO RAISE A FAMILY in Alabama, Niche, 2018.
  • Madison (#1 of 194) BEST PLACES TO BUY A HOUSE in Alabama, Niche, 2018.
  • Madison is the #1 BEST PLACE TO LIVE IN AMERICA'S NEW TECH HUBS, Trulia, 2018.
  • Huntsville / Madison Metro area (#16 of 150) MOST HIPSTER CITY in America, Movehub, 2017.
  • Madison (#91 of 15,783) BEST PLACES TO LIVE in America, Niche, 2017.
  • Madison (#61 of 194) MOST DIVERSE PLACES TO LIVE in Alabama, Niche, 2017.
  • Madison (#1 of 194) BEST PLACES TO LIVE in Alabama, Niche, 2017.
  • Madison (#1 of 15) BEST ZIP CODE TO LIVE in Alabama, Niche, 2017.
  • Madison (#1 of 194) BEST PLACES TO BUY A HOUSE in Alabama, Niche, 2017.
  • Madison (#21 of 15,739) BEST PLACES TO BUY A HOUSE in America, Niche, 2017.
  • Madison (#1 of 194) BEST PLACES TO RAISE A FAMILY in Alabama, Niche, 2017.
  • Madison (#275 of 15,711) BEST PLACES TO RAISE A FAMILY in America, Niche, 2017.
  • Madison named 14th SAFEST CITIES in Alabama, National Council for Home Safety and Security, 2017.
  • Madison (#3 of 194) BEST PLACES FOR MILLENNIALS in Alabama, Niche 2017.
  • Madison (#2 of 155) BEST PLACES TO LIVE in Alabama, Niche, 2016.
  • Madison County #1 BEST COUNTY TO LIVE in Alabama, Niche, 2017.
  • Madison named one of the SAFEST CITIES in Alabama (14th), National Council for Home Safety and Security, 2017.
  • Madison ranked (#1 of F 155) BEST PLACE TO BUY A HOUSE in Alabama, Niche, 2016.
  • Madison ranked (#2 of 155) BEST PLACE TO RAISE A FAMILY in Alabama, Niche, 2016.
  • Madison ranked (#3 of 154) PLACES WITH THE BEST PUBLIC SCHOOLS in Alabama, Niche, 2016.
  • Madison ranked (#10 of 155) BEST PLACES FOR MILLENNIALS in Alabama, Niche, 2016.
  • Madison ranked (39 of 155) HEALTHIEST PLACES TO LIVE in Alabama, Niche, 2016.
  • Madison ranked (#41 of 95) SAFEST PLACES TO LIVE in Alabama, Niche, 2016.
  • Madison ranked (#71 of 155) BEST PLACES TO RETIRE in Alabama, Niche, 2016.
  • Madison ranked (357 of 155) MOST DIVERSE PLACES TO LIVE in Alabama, Niche, 2016.
  • Madison is ranked 8th BEST SMALL CITIES FOR WORKING PARENTS, Nerdwallet, 2013, 2014, 2015
  • Madison is ranked in the top 100 $100K CLUB: AMERICA’S HIGHEST EARNING CITIES, Nerdwallet, 2015.
  • Madison is ranked in the top 50 BEST SMALL CITIES FOR FAMILIES nationally, Nerdwallet, 2015.
  • Madison ranked 2nd BEST CITY IN AMERICA FOR MILITARY VETERANS, Nerdwallet, 2015.
  • FASTEST GROWING METRO IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA, U.S. Census Bureau, 2015.
  • Madison is ranked 9th BEST CITIES FOR HOMEOWNERSHIP in Alabama, Nerdwallet 2014.
  • Top 100 MOST POPULAR CITIES FOR THE HOLIDAYS by Sperling’s Best Places.
  • Madison is recognized by Safewise.com as one of the 30 SAFEST CITIES IN ALABAMA.
  • Family Circle and CNN Money Magazine ALL ranked Madison as a GREAT PLACE TO “GROW” A BUSINESS AND FAMILY.
  • Madison Fire & Rescue nationally recognized as 1 of 133 fire departments to receive a CLASS 1 PUBLIC PROTECTION CLASSIFICATION RATING by the Insurance Services Office. Only 2 departments in the State have received this rating.
  • Madison Street Festival recognized as one of the TOP 20 FALL FESTIVALS IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA.
  • Madison City Police Department received the BEST PRACTICES IN COMMUNITY POLICE SERVICES by CISCO, 2014.
  • Madison FASTEST GROWING CITY in the Alabama, Huntsville Times, 2012.
  • Madison #96 in TOP 100 BEST PLACES TO LIVE. Money, 2011.
  • BEST SMALL CITY TO LIVE, Money Magazine, 2011, 2009
  • Madison named 2nd BEST PLACE TO GROW UP, U.S. News & World Report, 2010.
  • Huntsville-Madison metro area ranked 8th TOP 25 PLACES TO RETIRE, CNN Money, 2010.
  • BEST PLACE TO RAISE A FAMILY & KIDS, U.S. News & World Report, 2010
  • Madison us #49 of BEST SMALL CITIES IN WHICH TO LIVE. Money Magazine 2009.
  • Madison (#356 of 379) BEST GREEN CITY, County Home Magazine, 2007.
  • The Alabama Tourism Department ranked many of our regional attractions in their TOP RANKED TOURISM SITES IN ALABAMA:

US Space and Rocket Center

#1 U.S. Space and Rocket Center, is the largest space museum in the world with an annual attendance of 659,000.


Point Mallard Park   #6 Point Mallard Park with an annual attendance of 291,000. 


#HSV Botanical Garden7 Huntsville Botanical Garden with an annual attendance of 247,000.

EarlyWorks Museum         #10 EarlyWorks Museum with an annual attendance of 165,000.