Updated · Property tax data: Census ACS 2024 5-year estimates · Transfer tax verified April 2026 · Methodology · Editorial policy
Madison County's 0.40% median tax-to-value ratio ranks 201st lowest among the 3,134 US counties tracked, placing it in the bottom 10% lowest nationally. Within Alabama's 67 counties, it's the 14th highest. On the county's median home value of $299,200, the typical homeowner pays $1,185 annually in property tax, $444 less than the national median of $1,629. At closing, Alabama's 0.10% combined real estate transfer tax adds roughly $299 on a median-priced home, typically paid by the seller. FEMA data shows 20.2% of the county's land area sits within a Special Flood Hazard Area, a high exposure level that may trigger mandatory flood insurance on mortgaged properties.
Enter any purchase price to see the full cost breakdown for Madison County.
The two rows above, added together: everything due at closing plus your first twelve months of ownership.
High flood risk. Flood insurance likely required by your lender. Verify the flood zone at msc.fema.gov.
All figures are estimates for planning purposes only. Mortgage payment assumes a 30-year fixed rate of 7.28%, the Freddie Mac PMMS average for the week ending October 1, 2026. Your lender will confirm the actual rate. Closing costs vary by lender and transaction. Consult a licensed real estate attorney and lender before making any financial decisions.
Ways buyers in Madison County may reduce their annual property tax. These programs apply statewide; verify county specifics with your local assessor.
$4,000 off state property tax and $2,000 off county property tax for a single-family owner-occupied primary residence up to 160 acres (for homeowners under 65).
View official source →Homeowners age 65+ with combined taxable income of $12,000 or less (most recent state return), and residents who are permanently and totally disabled or legally blind regardless of age or income, are fully exempt from all state, county, and city property taxes.
View official source →Homes acquired through a VA Specially Adapted Housing Grant (for veterans or surviving spouses) are fully exempt from Alabama property tax regardless of value.
View official source →Last verified April 2026. Exemption amounts and eligibility change frequently. Always confirm with your county assessor before claiming.
Answers to common questions about buying a home in Madison County.
There is no single property tax rate for Madison County. The 0.40% figure commonly quoted is a county-wide median: the median annual property tax paid ($1,185) divided by the median home value ($299,200), from 2024 US Census ACS 5-year estimates. It is a statistic describing the county, not a rate levied on any particular property. Your own bill depends on your assessed value, the millage set by your overlapping taxing districts, any homestead or senior exemptions you qualify for, and special assessments. One thing to watch: the median reflects taxes actually paid by current owners, many of whom hold homestead exemptions and assessment caps, so a new buyer paying today's market price often pays more than 0.40% of the purchase price.
Alabama's combined real estate transfer tax is approximately 0.10% of the purchase price. On the median Madison County home value of $299,200, this adds roughly $299 at closing. Deed tax is $0.50/$500 (0.1%) paid by seller. Buyers also pay a $0.15/$100 (0.15%) mortgage recording tax on loan amount if financed, not included in buyer_rate since it applies to mortgage, not purchase price.
Partially. 20.2% of Madison County's land area lies within a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area. Whether flood insurance is required depends on your specific property. Check msc.fema.gov before making an offer.
On Madison County's median home value of $299,200 with 20% down, buyer closing costs work out to roughly $4,610–$8,756, or 1.5–2.9% of the purchase price. That covers title insurance $800–$2,000; loan origination fee $1,197–$2,394; home appraisal $400–$700; home inspection $350–$600; real estate attorney $600–$1,500; recording fees $100–$300; prepaid mortgage interest $716; homeowners insurance (2 months) $250; property tax escrow (2-3 months) $197–$296. Transfer tax is listed separately. These are national ranges for each line item rather than Madison County quotes, so treat them as a planning range and use the calculator above for your own purchase price.
Every county-specific figure on this page links to the exact public dataset it comes from. Verify the numbers yourself against the original source.
Source for the $1,185/yr median taxes paid (ACS 2024 5-year estimates, variable B25103_001E).
Source for the $299,200 median home value (variable B25077_001E). The 0.40% effective rate is median taxes paid divided by median home value.
Source for the transfer tax used in the calculator (buyer 0.00%, seller 0.10%). Verified April 2026.
Source for the county's flood hazard exposure (coastal and inland flood exposure area as a share of county area).
The national dataset behind the county report, including its technical documentation and release notes.
Look up a specific property's flood zone and insurance rate map before making an offer on a home in Madison County.
Closing cost line items are national ranges, not county data. The methodology lists each range's source and the calculator's assumptions (mortgage rate, insurance, PMI).
Alabama property tax exemptions: official sources
Verified April 2026.
What every buyer should read before making an offer.
An HOA capped rentals at 10 of 50 homes and grandfathered the existing landlords. How to find rental restrictions before closing, and what they cost you.
Read the guide →A buyer closed on a house and only then found out about ongoing HOA lawsuits. Six checks you can run yourself before your contingencies expire.
Read the guide →HOA special assessment not on the disclosure? One buyer got a $15,000 bill the day after closing. How to catch it before, and what to do after.
Read the guide →