1st Advantage MortgageThe median Madera County household earns $76,627, and 19% of residents live below the poverty line. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Madera County by the numbers
- Household income in Madera County
- How Madera County residents earn a living
- Renting and owning in Madera County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Madera County
- Room for a loan payment in Madera County
- More Madera County figures
- Local borrowing considerations for Madera County
- Before you sign
- California rules that apply in Madera County
- More guides for Madera County
- Frequently asked questions
Madera County by the numbers
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Madera County's population at 160,940; only 31 of California's 58 county-level areas are larger. It covers 2,137 square miles of land, or about 75 people per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Fresno, CA metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Of the 17 Census places inside Madera County, Madera leads by population with about 67,831; 2 of the 17 are incorporated.
Household income in Madera County
Madera County households have a median income of $76,627 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 34th of 58 in California.
| Income band | Share in Madera County | Difference from California |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.2% | +4.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.8% | +9.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.9% | -3.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 10.2% | -10.3 pts |
Some 22% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 36% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 19.2% of Madera County residents in poverty, against 12.0% across California. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.459 (0 is perfect equality). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Madera County median.
How Madera County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 23% of employed Madera County residents work in education and health care and 13% in agriculture, forestry and mining. Compared with California, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (13% against 2%). The survey's unemployment rate for Madera County averages 10.1% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 6.6%). About 72% drive to work alone and 18% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 5.0% of households have no vehicle.
| Sector | Madera County | Compared with California |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.3% | +1.3 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 12.6% | +10.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.4% | -0.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.1% | +0.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.6% | -1.9 pts |
| Construction | 7.2% | +0.6 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Renting and owning in Madera County
Renters in Madera County pay a median of $1,390 a month, 32% below the California figure of $2,036. 57% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 30% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $393,200, about 5.1 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 67%. Half the housing stock was built before 1988.
| Madera County | California | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,390/mo | $2,036/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $393,200 | $734,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 67% | 56% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 57% | 55% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 41% | 38% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 11% | 7% | n/a |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Mariposa County is closest, 27 miles from center to center; the sixth, Stanislaus County, is 73 miles off. Income ranges from $65,510 in Merced County to $99,415 in Mono County; 3 of these neighbors top Madera County's median.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madera County | - | $76,627 | $1,390/mo | 67% |
| Mariposa County, CA | 27 mi | $68,412 | $1,305/mo | 75% |
| Fresno County, CA | 31 mi | $74,201 | $1,392/mo | 56% |
| Merced County, CA | 54 mi | $65,510 | $1,343/mo | 54% |
| Tuolumne County, CA | 57 mi | $77,404 | $1,302/mo | 74% |
| Mono County, CA | 68 mi | $99,415 | $1,629/mo | 65% |
| Stanislaus County, CA | 73 mi | $81,468 | $1,623/mo | 61% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Madera County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 17 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 83% of Madera County residents live in one of the 17. Rolling Hills has the highest median household income on the list ($156,406) and La Vina the lowest ($22,745), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $1,121 in Coarsegold to $2,417 in Ahwahnee. None of the 17 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madera | city | 67,831 | $63,933 | $1,353 | 25 mi |
| Chowchilla | city | 19,020 | $66,514 | $1,178 | 28 mi |
| Madera Acres | CDP | 9,846 | $78,457 | $1,685 | 23 mi |
| Oakhurst | CDP | 6,091 | $82,056 | $1,728 | 11 mi |
| Bonadelle Ranchos | CDP | 5,465 | $132,723 | $1,941 | 18 mi |
| Yosemite Lakes | CDP | 5,288 | $97,813 | $1,907 | 2 mi |
| Coarsegold | CDP | 3,967 | $80,861 | $1,121 | 3 mi |
| Madera Ranchos | CDP | 3,037 | $126,583 | n/a | 21 mi |
| North Fork | CDP | 2,999 | $71,619 | $1,399 | 13 mi |
| Parksdale | CDP | 2,885 | $51,587 | $1,656 | 24 mi |
| Parkwood | CDP | 1,758 | $61,645 | $1,536 | 25 mi |
| Ahwahnee | CDP | 1,453 | $77,391 | $2,417 | 11 mi |
| Fairmead | CDP | 1,229 | $46,680 | $1,418 | 26 mi |
| La Vina | CDP | 789 | $22,745 | n/a | 30 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Room for a loan payment in Madera County
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Madera County's medians:
- Start: $6,386 gross per month ($76,627 / 12)
- Rent at the median, $1,390, takes 22% of that
- At 35%, room after rent is $845 a month
- 45% debt-to-income limit: $1,484 left for all other debt payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
More Madera County figures
Degree holders: 18% of adults over 25. About 7% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Madera County | California | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.6 | 37.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 17.9% | 37.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 26.9% | 15.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.4% | 6.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.0% | 7.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.7% | 17.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 19.2% | 12.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 10.1% | 6.6% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Madera County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 30.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 25.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.8% |
| 60+ min | 9.0% |
Local borrowing considerations for Madera County
Where the Madera County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- 19% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
- 57% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
Before you sign
A short checklist for Madera County borrowers:
- Price the Madera County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
California rules that apply in Madera County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Madera County, check the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: California guide.
More guides for Madera County
The California guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Madera County earn?
The median is $76,627; 36% earn $100,000 or more and 22% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Madera County rent compare with California?
$1,390 locally versus $2,036 for the state, 32% below.
What are the biggest places in Madera County?
By population: Madera, Chowchilla, Madera Acres, Oakhurst, Bonadelle Ranchos. The county has 17 Census places in all.
Does living in Madera County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Madera County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Is there a Madera County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In California it is the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation.