Madison Apartments and Rentals

Madison is a very unique area nestled in the northern suburbs of Nashville. The town’s official website calls it a testament to the unique local environment, saying “our rich history - 150 years and counting - and promising future make Madison a great place to live, learn, worship and do business." Madison is home to more than 35,000 residents who have a strong sense of local pride and enjoy the close-knit feeling of a Southern small town. Look for Madison apartments for rent, and find one of Tennessee’s most diverse communities.  

The history of European settlement in Madison began in the late 1700s when famous farmers Thomas Sharpe Spencer and Kasper Mansker used the land as a bison trace between Sumner County and the Cumberland River. The beauty and bounty of the land generated interest, leading a small group of settlers to explore and break ground on the first settlement in 1779. Six years later, Reverend Thomas Craighead established the Spring Hill Meeting House, which became the first church built west of the Cumberland Mountains. The community thrived, and the city would eventually be named after Madison Stratton, whose father bought a significant portion of land in the area.

Madison was the site of much contention during the Civil War, as the city’s railroad station was part of the Louisville Branch and Gallatin Turnpikes which the Confederate Military Board of State ordered extra defenses to protect. The city recovered after the war when the Powder Plant Boom of 1916 brought new workers and industry to central Tennessee.

Madison continued to grow through the 20th century and today is a thriving suburb north of Nashville. Madison is still unincorporated, but offers the conveniences of a big city with the desirable atmosphere of a small town that come together as the perfect place to raise a family.

Miller-Motte College and the Nossi College of Art in town are joined by a number of educational opportunities in the metropolis of Nashville. Vanderbilt University is the most prestigious in the area, and is joined by Tennessee State University, Belmont University, Fisk University, Aquinas College, Watkins College of Art, Design & Film; Lipscomb University, Nashville State Community College, American Baptist College and the Free Will Baptist Bible College in giving students an exceptional education.

For those seeking work, Nashville is a hub for business opportunity. Known as the “home of country music,” there are many major music recording and production studios in town, including numerous large and independent record labels in the Music Row area. Music may be a significant contributor to the local economy, but healthcare is the largest industry here with more than 250 companies in the area. Madison residents work in both of these fields in positions of all levels.

With all of the excitement found in Nashville, Madison has maintained very affordable rent prices. United States Census Bureau statistics indicate that the average apartment in Davidson County is $776 a month, which is $80 less than the national average. That’s a small price to pay for living in the South, as residents here also enjoy a cost of living index significantly less than that of the average U.S. city. Nestled in the beautiful backdrop of Tennessee, Madison apartments are sure to please.

Madison is home to the Taste of Madison, Madison Music & Folklife Festival, and the Madison Golf Tournament that are great options for residents of all ages. People here also travel to Nashville to take part in the Music City Blues Celebration, Nashville Gay Pride Festival, Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival, Iroquois Steeplechase, Tennessee Jazz and Blues Festival, American Artisan Festival, Tennessee State Fair, African Street Festival and Nashville Shakespeare Festival, among others.

To find a Madison apartment or rental, check out our apartment listings. Rent.com® is happy to help you find your next home.