City profile · California · Census ACS 2023

Madera, CA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Madera - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

67,133
Residents
$63,619
Median income
$335,900
Median home
$1,376
Median rent (state)

Madera - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Madera lands in the 41st percentile for household income and the 43rd percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

41st
percentile, household income
70th
percentile, home value
53rd
percentile, median rent
43rd
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Madera, CA

Madera is a small city in California, home to 67,133 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Madera households earn a median of $63,619 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 21.7%. Typical homes in Madera are valued around $335,900, and the median resident age is 30.4 years. Educational attainment runs 10.3% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 54.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 138 residential building permits were authorized in Madera (Slowing), down 19% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Madera reports a comparatively low crime rate: per-100,000 total crime stands at 1571.2 in FBI UCR data, below the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 62.3°F with 11.3 inches of precipitation per year.

California carries a cost-of-living premium: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, California scores 110.7 (Well Above Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,376 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts California's average monthly utility costs around $275 (state average). On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 96.4 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

67,133 residents

Census ACS 2023 - California

Median Household Income

$63,619 /yr

Poverty 21.7%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.7 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, California average

How does Madera compare to other US cities?

Here's how Madera stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 41% higher than other cities
Home value 70% pricier than other cities
Median rent 53% pricier than other cities
Safety 43% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to California alone, Madera ranks #161 of 441 California cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Madera's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in California, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

41stIncome percentile
43rdSafety percentile

41st percentile nationally for median household income · 43rd percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Madera's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Madera's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 41 Avg. percentile National median
Madera's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Madera's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$335,900 30th percentile more affordable than 30% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). This entry sits in this band. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Madera $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Madera, CA Madera, CA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Madera, CA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Madera, CA median $63,619/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Madera, CA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Madera, CA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 10.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 21.7%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 54.3%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
67,133
Median Income
$63,619
Median Home Value
$335,900
Median Age
30.4
Poverty Rate
21.7%
Labor force participation
54.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
10.3%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1571.2
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
393.5
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1177.7
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
62.3°F
Annual Precipitation
11.3"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"

Schools

Total Schools
47
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
66,000 residents67,000 residents68,000 residents69,000 residents70,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 66,582 residents 69,017 residents ▲ +3.7%
Madera's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Slowing
Total Permits (2024)
138
housing units authorized
Single-Family
130
detached homes
Multifamily
8
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
2.1
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 171
2020 323
2021 251
2022 289
2023 139
2024 138

Permit volume decreased 19% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
70.4%
Carpool
14.0%
Public Transit
0.4%
Walk
1.4%
Work from Home
6.5%
Other
7.3%

Based on 25,521 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for California - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$150
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$70
avg/month
Total Utilities
$275
estimated/month

Estimates reflect California state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a California state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Madera sits in

Cost of Living Index
110.7
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,376/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
96.4 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in California

Palo Alto
67,231 people
Lodi
67,008 people
Yorba Linda
67,407 people
Davis
66,801 people
Union City
68,141 people
Castro Valley
65,389 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Madera's 67,133 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Spring, TX
67,103 people
Rockville, MD
67,218 people
Grand Junction, CO
67,027 people
Waterloo, IA
66,947 people
Delray Beach, FL
66,940 people
Haverhill, MA
67,387 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Madera's $63,619 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Eaton Rapids, MI
$63,618 median income
Clyde, TX
$63,616 median income
Garden City, MO
$63,625 median income
Oak Grove CDP (Washington County), TN
$63,625 median income
Morrice, MI
$63,611 median income
Richland, MS
$63,611 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Madera, CA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Madera, CA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 31.2% 42.1% 19.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 80.2% White 31.2% Black or African American 3.1% Asian 2.0% American Indian 2.0% Native Hawaiian 0.2% Some other race 42.1% Two or more races 19.5% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Madera compares to nearby California cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Madera (this city) 67,133 $63,619
Palo Alto 67,231 $220,408
Lodi 67,008 $84,402
Yorba Linda 67,407 $152,060
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CA FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Madera, CA?

What is the population of Madera, CA? +

Madera, CA has a population of 67,133 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Madera, CA? +

Madera households earn a median of $63,619 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Madera? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Madera; the closest available measure is the California state average, a cost of living index of 110.7 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within California vary by metro area.

Is Madera, CA safe? +

Madera has a total crime rate of 1571.2 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Madera, CA? +

The median home value in Madera is $335,900, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Madera? +

Madera has an average annual temperature of 62.3°F, 11.3 inches of precipitation. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.