Moving to Huntsville › Compare cities › Hampton Cove vs. Madison
Hampton Cove vs. Madison, Alabama: Which Fits You?
A side-by-side look at home prices, schools, commute times, parks, groceries, healthcare, taxes, utilities and what is being built, using MLS sales and official sources, with links to every deeper guide on our site.
The short answer: Typical sale prices are close: a median of $400,000 in Hampton Cove and $383,000 in Madison over the last 12 months. Without traffic, Gate 9 at Redstone is about 25 minutes from Hampton Cove and 12 from Madison; Research Park is 24 and 12. Sales tax is 9.0% if inside Huntsville city limits in Hampton Cove and 9.0% in Madison.
How to use this page. These are facts to help you narrow your search, not a ranking of places or of the people who live there. Numbers change, city limits and school zones follow the address and not the mailing city, and every neighborhood is different. Check anything that matters to your decision with the official source linked below.
At a glance
| Hampton Cove | Madison | |
|---|---|---|
| Type of place | Master-planned community in ZIP 35763, served by the City of Huntsville | City |
| Population | Not counted separately by the Census | 56,933 (2020 Census); 67,968 (2025 estimate) |
| Median sale price, last 12 months | $400,000 | $383,000 |
| Middle half of sales | $308,000 to $562,000 | $308,000 to $530,000 |
| Median price per sq ft | $175 | $174 |
| Median home size | 2,372 sq ft | 2,285 sq ft |
| Median lot | 0.3 acres | 0.27 acres |
| Sales on half an acre or more | 14% | 12% |
| Sales by builders (new construction) | 26% | 23% |
| Median days, listing to closing | 84 | 82 |
| Months of supply | 3.3 | 4.3 |
| Homes sold, last 12 months | 595 | 1,890 |
| Sales tax | 9.0% if inside Huntsville city limits | 9.0% |
| Property tax rate | 58.0 mills | 69.5 mills |
| Public schools | Huntsville City Schools | Madison City Schools |
Home figures: Valley MLS sales of single-family homes, townhomes and condos with a Hampton Cove or Madison city in the listing, closed in the 12 months before October 26, 2026. Hampton Cove uses ZIP 35763.
Homes and prices
The live numbers are in each market report, which updates every day. Browse neighborhoods, subdivisions and new construction on each area page.
Hampton Cove
Median sale $400,000, $175 per sq ft, 2,372 sq ft typical size.
Hampton Cove homes and neighborhoods · Hampton Cove market report
Madison
Median sale $383,000, $174 per sq ft, 2,285 sq ft typical size.
Looking at new homes? Compare builders on our builder comparison and see current builder incentives.
Schools
The high schools below are the ones most homes sold in each place were zoned for, with their 2025 state report card grade and their rank among 79 high schools in our North Alabama school rankings. Want new listings in one zone? Use school zone alerts.
Hampton Cove
| High school | Share of sales | 2025 grade | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville High School | 83% | A (90) | Tied for #4 of 79 |
| New Hope High School | 15% | A (91) | Tied for #2 of 79 |
The state reports whole-number scores, so schools with the same score share a rank.
Madison
| High school | Share of sales | 2025 grade | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bob Jones High School | 33% | B (86) | Tied for #25 of 79 |
| James Clemens High School | 24% | B (88) | Tied for #15 of 79 |
| Columbia High School | 21% | C (71) | Tied for #74 of 79 |
| Sparkman High School | 11% | B (89) | Tied for #9 of 79 |
The state reports whole-number scores, so schools with the same score share a rank.
The mailing-address trap. A "Hampton Cove" or "Madison" mailing address does not tell you the city limits or the school district. Many addresses near city lines are zoned for a different system than the town name suggests. Always check the exact address with the district before you make an offer.
Considering other options? See private schools and homeschooling in Alabama.
Commute
Drive times are typical routes without traffic, from the center of each place. Rush hour adds time, especially at the Redstone gates. Try any starting point on our commute times tool.
Hampton Cove
| To | Drive |
|---|---|
| Redstone Gate 9 | 25 min (16 mi) |
| Redstone Gate 1 | 32 min (18 mi) |
| Cummings Research Park | 24 min (16 mi) |
| Downtown Huntsville | 15 min (9 mi) |
| Huntsville Hospital | 14 min (9 mi) |
| Huntsville airport | 31 min (22 mi) |
| Mazda Toyota plant | 40 min (27 mi) |
Madison
| To | Drive |
|---|---|
| Redstone Gate 9 | 12 min (7 mi) |
| Redstone Gate 1 | 23 min (12 mi) |
| Cummings Research Park | 12 min (7 mi) |
| Downtown Huntsville | 17 min (12 mi) |
| Huntsville Hospital | 17 min (12 mi) |
| Huntsville airport | 9 min (5 mi) |
| Mazda Toyota plant | 16 min (8 mi) |
Working on the Arsenal? See homes near Redstone Arsenal by gate and the BAH calculator.
Parks and recreation
Hampton Cove
- Hays Nature Preserve: City nature preserve along the Flint River and oxbow lakes with 10+ miles of trails and greenways, picnic area, restrooms.
- Big Cove Creek Greenway: 2.86-mile greenway.
- Flint River Greenway: 1.87-mile greenway to the Flint River pedestrian bridge.
- Little Cove Road Greenway: 5.04-mile greenway.
- Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Hampton Cove: 54 holes (three courses) on 630 acres; clubhouse, pro shop, restaurant; open year-round.
- Hampton House: Community recreation facility with six clay tennis courts and an Olympic-size pool.
Madison
- Dublin Memorial Park: Indoor and outdoor pools, soccer fields, tennis, paved walking paths, 9-hole disc golf, Kids Kingdom playground, indoor walking track and basketball.
- Palmer Park: City youth baseball, softball, soccer and football complex; ADA playground; Bradford Creek Greenway trailhead.
- Bradford Creek Greenway: 2.24-mile paved greenway, partnership of City of Madison and Land Trust of North Alabama.
- Mill Creek Greenway and Dog Park: Flat paved path, playground, dog park with small and large dog areas.
- Rainbow Mountain Preserve: 1.5-mile loop trail with rock formations, waterfall and city views.
- Hogan Family YMCA: Indoor pool, outdoor pool with slides, gym, climbing wall.
Shopping and groceries
Shopping
Hampton Cove
- U.S. Highway 431 corridor: Neighborhood retail along US 431 including Publix (6707 Hwy 431 S) and Food City (Taylor Ln); Bojangles and Hampton Inn & Suites near 6079 US 431 S.
- Nearby: Huntsville and Owens Cross Roads: Major shopping is over the mountain in Huntsville; Walmart at 330 Sutton Rd SE in Owens Cross Roads.
Madison
- Town Madison: 500+ acre district with 2.5 miles of I-565 frontage: Toyota Field, hotels, Pro Player Park travel-baseball complex.
- Clift Farm: Mixed-use center with 25+ restaurants (Cooper's Hawk, Melt, Grimaldi's, La Parrilla) and services.
- U.S. Highway 72 W corridor: Big-box corridor: Costco, Target, Kroger, Walmart, Aldi (several 'Madison' addresses here may be in Huntsville city limits).
- Downtown Madison: Historic Main Street area with shops, historic homes and a gazebo on the green.
Grocery stores
Hampton Cove
- Publix, 6707 Highway 431 S (Owens Cross Roads mailing address, Hampton Cove area)
- Food City, Taylor Ln just off US 431 (opened fall 2024; first Food City in the Huntsville market)
- Walmart, 330 Sutton Rd SE, Owens Cross Roads
- Kroger / Aldi, None listed in Hampton Cove/Owens Cross Roads; nearest in south Huntsville (e.g., Kroger 8404 Memorial Pkwy SW, Aldi 11909 Memorial Pkwy S)
Madison
- Publix, 417 John Henry Way; 8000 Madison Blvd Ste A; 7129 Wall Triana Hwy; 12070 County Line Rd Ste C; 350 Hughes Rd
- Kroger, 4579 Wall Triana Hwy; 8855 Highway 72 W
- Walmart, 7140 Wall Triana Hwy; 8580 Hwy 72 W; 8650 Madison Blvd
- Aldi, 7676 Hwy 72 W; 8455 Madison Blvd
- Costco, 8094 Highway 72 W
- Target, 8207 Highway 72 W
- Food City (under construction), Old Highway 20; 56,000+ sq ft with pharmacy, Starbucks and fuel; broke ground May 15, 2026, opening expected spring 2027
- Madison City Farmers Market, Saturdays; Trinity Baptist Church parking lot off Hughes Rd
Healthcare
Hampton Cove
- Huntsville Hospital freestanding ED - Hampton Cove (planned): Approved by Huntsville Planning Commission Sept 2026; 8 treatment + 4 vertical exam rooms, helipad, on-site ambulances, specialty clinic, lab/CT/MRI/X-ray; ~$41M; completion late 2027 or early 2028.
- Huntsville Hospital / Crestwood Medical Center: Nearest full hospitals, in Huntsville.
Madison
- Huntsville Hospital and Crestwood Medical Center: Main regional hospitals in nearby Huntsville.
Taxes and utilities
Alabama property taxes are low by national standards, and the homestead exemption lowers them on the home you live in. Millage is the tax rate per $1,000 of assessed value; homes are assessed at 10% of appraised value. Confirm any address with the county revenue office. See Alabama real estate, explained and, for military buyers, VA loans and military.
Hampton Cove
- Electric, gas and water: Huntsville Utilities
Madison
- Water: Madison Utilities (City of Madison) - water
- Sewer: Madison Utilities - wastewater
- Trash: City-contracted residential collection; fee $17.08/month (Madison County side) or $17.35/month (Limestone County side) as of 2026.
- Internet: AT&T Fiber, Xfinity cable (~99%), WOW cable (~99%), Google Fiber low availability (~2%), plus 5G home internet and Starlink.
Growth and recent news
What has been announced, approved or built lately, newest first.
Hampton Cove
- Sep 2026 Hampton Cove freestanding ER approved. Huntsville Hospital's ~$41M ED at 6079 US 431 S approved by Planning Commission; site work begun, completion late 2027/early 2028.
- Sep 2025 Hampton Cove schools at capacity; new middle school discussed. Councilman David Little said there is talk of a new middle school and that the district may be seeking land (speculative, not announced).
- Jul 2025 Huntsville Hospital plans Hampton Cove and north Huntsville freestanding EDs. Letter of intent filed; certificate-of-need application planned.
- Jul 2025 Classroom additions at Goldsmith-Schiffman Elementary and Hampton Cove Middle. Part of Huntsville City Schools' 10-year, $600M capital plan.
- 2024 Food City opens off US 431. First Food City in the Huntsville market, on Taylor Ln off US 431.
Madison
- Sep 2026 Clift Farm restaurant openings. Melt, Grimaldi's and La Parrilla opened at Clift Farm in May 2026; The Chop House and Viva Tequila also recently opened in Madison.
- Aug 2026 Russell Branch Elementary opens; new superintendent. $49M school on the Limestone County side of Madison (200 Madison Branch Blvd) opened for 2026-27; Eric Terrell succeeds Dr. Ed Nichols as superintendent.
- Jul 2026 I-565 westbound widening between county line and Wall Triana. Last segment in the corridor not yet six-plus lanes; Bradford Creek and Norfolk Southern bridges being widened; overall completion expected around summer 2027.
- May 2026 Food City breaks ground on Old Highway 20 store. 56,000+ sq ft supermarket with pharmacy, Starbucks and fuel center; opening expected spring 2027.
- Jan 2026 SPX $118M data-center cooling plant near Greenbrier (Huntsville city limits, west of County Line Rd). 460,000 sq ft, 350 jobs - just west of Madison.
- 2026 Madison raises residential trash fee. Monthly fee set at $17.35 (Limestone County residents) and $17.08 (Madison County residents); another 4% increase scheduled for September 2027.
Library and community
Hampton Cove
- Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail - Hampton Cove: One of the trail's stops; 54 holes.
- Hays Nature Preserve: Signature natural area on the Flint River.
- Entrance waterfall and springhouse: Fieldstone springhouse and waterfall at the main entrance; valley setting in the foothills of Monte Sano.
- History: Area once known as Horse Cove, where residents reportedly hid horses during the Civil War.
Madison
- Madison Public Library (HMCPL branch): Storytimes, crafts, summer movie nights.
- Madison Street Festival: Annual October festival hosted by Madison Arts Alliance and Madison Historical Society.
- Rocket City Trash Pandas at Toyota Field: Double-A baseball in Town Madison.
- Downtown Madison historic district: Historic Main Street with gazebo on the green.
Which fits you?
Look at Hampton Cove if
Either can work. It comes down to the neighborhood.
Look at Madison if
- a shorter drive to Redstone Arsenal (Gate 9), Research Park and Mazda Toyota matters to you
- you want more homes to choose from and more room to negotiate
Still deciding? Compare any two places, see ZIP codes side by side, or read our moving to Huntsville guide.
We are a local family brokerage and own property in South Huntsville, Madison, Harvest and downtown. We can show you both in a day. Buyers in Alabama can tour before signing anything. Call or text (256) 808-6861.
Questions
Is Hampton Cove or Madison more expensive?
Over the last 12 months the median sale was $400,000 in Hampton Cove and $383,000 in Madison, based on Valley MLS sales through October 26, 2026. Prices vary a lot by neighborhood, so compare the specific areas you like.
Which schools serve Hampton Cove and Madison?
Hampton Cove is served mainly by Huntsville City Schools, and Madison mainly by Madison City Schools. Mailing addresses do not decide school zones, so confirm any address with the school district.
How long is the drive to Redstone Arsenal from Hampton Cove and Madison?
Without traffic, Gate 9 is about 25 minutes from Hampton Cove and 12 minutes from Madison. Rush hour adds time, especially at the gates and on I-565 and the Parkway.
What is the sales tax in Hampton Cove and Madison?
About 9.0% if inside Huntsville city limits in Hampton Cove and 9.0% in Madison. Rates depend on whether an address is inside city limits, so check a specific address with the Alabama Department of Revenue.
Sources: Valley MLS sales data (pulled October 26, 2026); Alabama State Department of Education 2025 report card; drive times computed with OpenStreetMap routing; U.S. Census Bureau; Alabama Department of Revenue millage tables; and the city, county, utility, store and news pages below. Information is believed reliable but not guaranteed, and it changes. Wyze Realty advises buyers but does not verify taxes, utilities or school zones for a specific property; confirm them with the official source. Updated October 2026.
All source links
256today.com/huntsville-city-schools-marks-first-year-of-10-year-600m-capital-plan/
broadbandmap.com/internet-providers/madison-al
broadbandmap.com/internet-providers/owens-cross-roads-al
businessalabama.com/superlative-burbs-hampton-cove
casite-536932.cloudaccess.net/about
census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/madisoncityalabama/PST045224
crestwoodmedcenter.com/crestwood-medical-center-to-expand-access-to-emergency-care-with-fr
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hampton_Cove,_Huntsville
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madison,_Alabama
hsvchamber.org/town-madison-taking-shape-along-interstate-565
huntsvillebusinessjournal.com/news/2025/09/19/from-hampton-cove-to-huntsville-middle-whats
landtrustnal.org/explore-our-lands/preserves-north-alabama/bradford-creek-greenway/
nnpa.org/madison-approves-trash-fee-increase-as-costs-rise-long-term-changes-planned/
storelocators.com/store-lists/aldi/alabama
storelocators.com/store-lists/target/alabama
storelocators.com/store-lists/walmart/alabama
theshelbyreport.com/2025/05/01/food-city-debuts-new-store-in-huntsville-al/
theshelbyreport.com/2026/05/18/food-city-breaks-ground-on-sixth-huntsville-area-location/
avalara.com/us/en/taxrates/state-rates/alabama/cities/huntsville.html
avalara.com/us/en/taxrates/state-rates/alabama/cities/madison.html
axios.com/local/huntsville/2025/12/08/madison-sales-tax-revenue-ssuts-huntsville-tuscaloos
beckershospitalreview.com/capital/no-area-of-the-state-is-growing-more-rapidly-alabama-sys
huntsville.org/blog/list/post/new-and-coming-soon-restaurants-in-huntsville-and-madison/
huntsvilleal.gov/?p=118688
huntsvilleal.gov/?p=4283
huntsvilleal.gov/environment/green-team/nature-preserves/hays-nature-preserve/
huntsvilleal.gov/government/huntsville-utilities/
jems.com/ems-operations/new-free-standing-ers-will-shorten-response-times-in-huntsville-al
revenue.alabama.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2025-Millage-Rates.pdf
storelocators.com/store-lists/costco/alabama
storelocators.com/store-lists/kroger/alabama
storelocators.com/store-lists/publix/alabama
tva.com/energy/public-power-partnerships/local-power-companies/lpc/huntsville-utilities
waff.com/2025/08/11/more-developments-works-clift-farm
waff.com/2026/07/06/i565-widening-update-bradford-creek-bridge-work-nearing-completion-ald
waff.com/2026/08/06/madison-city-schools-kicks-off-school-year-with-brand-new-campus-super
yahoo.com/news/articles/madison-city-getting-school-zones-155921632.html