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Living in
Chowchilla.
About
Life in Chowchilla
Living in Chowchilla means embracing life in California's Central Valley where affordability and community come first. The job market is tied significantly to two state correctional facilities, which employ a meaningful portion of the workforce, but most people commute to Madera, Merced, or Fresno for diverse work—expect about 26 minutes on average via Route 99. The community itself is family-oriented, with nearly half of all households raising children under 18 and a Latino community that makes up about 38% of the population, shaping the local culture, food scene, and neighborhood character.
Chowchilla at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
34.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
19.6%
Foreign-Born
16.4%
Broadband Internet
88.1%
of households
Population Growth
-2.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics16.4% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Chowchilla: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Chowchilla, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (63.8%), and 35.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
24.4%
of residents
65 and Older
10.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
43.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
29.8%
of households
Married Couples
36.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.29
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 42% below CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Chowchilla
In Chowchilla, rent runs 42% below the CA average, and home values are 50% below the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
44.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
18.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
102.2
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,064
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
57.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1992
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $387,180 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 2.5 pts above CA average
Unemployment in Chowchilla
Unemployment in Madera County, which includes Chowchilla, is 2.5 percentage points higher than the CA average.
Unemployment rate
Chowchilla: Madera County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Madera County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Chowchilla Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute25.8 min avg
How Chowchilla residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Chowchilla, most residents drive alone to work (75%), and 61% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 18 mi
Merced Regional Macready Field (MCE)
Regional airport · few flights4,935 passengers boarded in 2025
- 93 mi
Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC)
Medium hub5.3M passengers boarded in 2025
- 121 mi
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Major hub26.3M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 14% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Chowchilla runs 14% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
373.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
690.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Chowchilla Police Department
Natural DisastersDense Fog most common — 38 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
96.4 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Madera County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Madera County, which includes Chowchilla, the most common type is dense fog, with 38 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 38 | Dense Fog | $5,000 |
| 2024 | 81 | Dense Fog | $50,000 |
| 2023 | 67 | Dense Fog | $20,000 |
| 2022 | 83 | Dense Fog | None reported |
| 2021 | 38 | Dense Fog | None reported |
| 2020 | 2 | Funnel Cloud | None reported |
| 2019 | 9 | Funnel Cloud | $11,000 |
| 2018 | 3 | Flood | $10,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
161 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Madera County, county-wide
Air Quality50 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Madera County, which includes Chowchilla, is typically good — 184 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
50
Good Days
184
per year
Moderate Days
178
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Madera County, county-wide
Climate96°F summers, 39°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Chowchilla has hot summers (avg high 96°F) and mild winters (avg low 39°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
76°/47°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
96°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
79°/50°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
59°/39°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
12.7"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
109
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
25
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
58
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 57°F | 39°F | 2.08" |
| Feb | 63°F | 41°F | 1.99" |
| Mar | 69°F | 44°F | 1.98" |
| Apr | 75°F | 46°F | 0.89" |
| May | 84°F | 52°F | 0.47" |
| Jun | 92°F | 58°F | 0.16" |
| Jul | 98°F | 63°F | 0.01" |
| Aug | 97°F | 61°F | 0.00" |
| Sep | 92°F | 58°F | 0.03" |
| Oct | 80°F | 50°F | 0.44" |
| Nov | 66°F | 42°F | 0.92" |
| Dec | 56°F | 38°F | 1.82" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Chowchilla
Uninsured
7.8%
of residents
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Education23.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Chowchilla
Chowchilla's student/teacher ratio is 23.4:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 15.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
15.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
23.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Yosemite National Park, 63 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Chowchilla
Chowchilla has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Yosemite National Park (63 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Yosemite National Park
National Park
63 mi awayPinnacles National Park
National Park
68 mi awayDevils Postpile National Monument
National Monument
72 mi awaySequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
National Parks
95 mi awayPublic Libraries in Chowchilla
Chowchilla Branch Library
300 Kings Ave., Chowchilla
Cities Near Chowchilla
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Chowchilla?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Chowchilla FAQ
Is Chowchilla, California affordable?⌄
Chowchilla's median rent is $1,178/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $66,514/year. Median home value is $364,000.
Is Chowchilla, California safe?⌄
Chowchilla's violent crime rate was 374 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 691 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Chowchilla, California?⌄
Madera County, which includes Chowchilla, has an unemployment rate of 8.0%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Chowchilla, California?⌄
The cost of living in Chowchilla is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,178/month and median household income is $66,514/year. The median home value is $364,000. About 44% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Chowchilla, California?⌄
The average commute in Chowchilla is 26 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from