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City · 19,020 residents · Madera County, California

Chowchilla , California

In Chowchilla, a typical home is worth $364,000 and typical rent is $1,178 a month. Compared with all of Madera County, typical rent is 15% lower, typical household income is 13% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 10 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $364,000

    7% below the county

    50% below California

    • Chowchilla
    • Madera
    • California

  • Typical rent

    $1,178a month

    15% below the county

    42% below California

    • Chowchilla
    • Madera
    • California

  • Typical household income

    $66,514a year

    13% below the county

    33% below California

    • Chowchilla
    • Madera
    • California

  • Households that own their home

    57%

    10 points below the county

    1 points above California

    • Chowchilla
    • Madera
    • California

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$387,180
1.3% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$2,400 a month

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Chowchilla is in Madera County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Madera County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Chowchilla apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Nearby, in Firebaugh, the typical home value is $242,400: 33% less than in Chowchilla ($364,000).

  2. Nearby, in Firebaugh, the typical rent is $982: 17% less than in Chowchilla ($1,178).

  3. The typical rent in Chowchilla is $1,178 a month, 15% less than in Madera County as a whole ($1,390).

  4. 57% of households in Chowchilla own their home, against 67% in Madera County.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Chowchilla

What homes there are in Chowchilla, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

In Chowchilla, 8 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses, about the same as in Madera County.

Year built

Here half of the homes date from 1992 or later; in Madera County, from 1988 or later.

Homes in Chowchilla are smaller: 68% have 3 bedrooms or more; in Madera County, 75%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes
Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,960 a month

Madera County: $2,052 a month

Without a mortgage

$513 a month

Madera County: $660 a month

Owners with a mortgage

70%

Madera County: 65%

Owning costs about the same in Chowchilla as in Madera County: with a mortgage, $1,960 a month; without one, $513.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Since 2015–2019, homes in Chowchilla gained value faster than in Madera County: 68% against 57%.

Rents in Chowchilla rose more slowly than in Madera County: 32% since 2015–2019, against 37%.

The typical household income in Chowchilla rose 24%: less than home values (+68%) and rent (+32%).

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureChowchillaMadera CountyCaliforniaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate4.2%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate1.4%0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room 10.3%11.1%8.2%3.4%
People per household 3.293.412.842.53
Drive alone 75%72%66%69%
Carpool 15%12%10%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate3%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate2%3%3%
Work from home 8%10%17%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate5%2%2%
Typical commute 20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

In Chowchilla, 10.3% of households live with more than one person per room, about the same as in Madera County.

By size, households in Chowchilla look like those in Madera County: 3.29 people on average.

Carpooling is common in Chowchilla: 15% of workers get to work that way, against 12% in Madera County.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Chowchilla?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Chowchilla, worth $364,000, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 54% of the typical household income in Chowchilla, which is $66,514 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $128,085 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Madera County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Chowchilla. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $12,740 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$2,989

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$357,407
Total interest
$514,225
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $6,147 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,552 a month

  • Tight

    $1,552 to $1,995 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,995 a month

    Your payment · 54%

Compared with the typical household income in Chowchilla ($66,514 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$2,989
Principal & interest$2,421
Property tax$255
Home insurance$152
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$161

You need at least $12,740 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Chowchilla and Madera County

Chowchilla is in Madera County, California. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Chowchilla's own numbers

Typical home value
$364,000
Typical monthly rent
$1,178
Typical yearly household income
$66,514
Households that own their home
57%
Effective property tax rate
0.84%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Madera County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,460
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+50%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
5.9%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Madera County.

Everything about Madera County

Buying

Buying a home in Chowchilla

A typical home in Chowchilla is worth $364,000: 7% below the county and 50% below California. With the typical household income in Chowchilla ($66,514 a year), a typical home costs 5.5 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Chowchilla 5.5 years
  • Madera 5.1 years
  • California 7.4 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Madera County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Madera County rose 105% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Madera County.

Period County California U.S.
Last year (2025) +1.2% +0.8% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +50% +40% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +105% +80% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Chowchilla next to Madera County, California and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Chowchilla $364,000
  • Madera $393,200
  • California $734,700
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Chowchilla $1,178
  • Madera $1,390
  • California $2,036
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Chowchilla $66,514
  • Madera $76,627
  • California $99,122
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Chowchilla next to Madera County and California
Measure Chowchilla Madera County California U.S.
Typical home value $364,000 $393,200 $734,700 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,178 $1,390 $2,036 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $66,514 $76,627 $99,122 $80,734
Households that own their home 57% 67% 56% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $3,064 $2,756 $5,124 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.84% 0.7% 0.7% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 51% 57% 55% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Madera County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Chowchilla

For a typical $364,000 home in Chowchilla, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Chowchilla's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $2,989a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $12,740
    Cash to close
    $23,660
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $161

  • Conventional, 5% down $2,922a month

    Down payment
    $18,200
    Cash to close
    $29,120
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $173

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $2,379a month

    Down payment
    $72,800
    Cash to close
    $83,720
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $2,716a month

    Down payment
    $54,600
    Cash to close
    $65,520
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Chowchilla and for Madera County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Chowchilla

0.84%of the home’s value each year

$3,064 a year for the typical owner in Chowchilla.

  • Chowchilla 0.84%
  • Madera 0.7%
  • California 0.7%

What California publishes Homeowners' exemption (California State Board of Equalization (BOE))

Exemptions and deadlines in California

Flood risk in Madera County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Madera County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
5.9%
2,683
Of those, with NFIP insurance
15%
County California U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 5.9% 2.8% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 15% 31% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Chowchilla

Typical rent in Chowchilla is $1,178 a month: 15% below the county. In Chowchilla, 51% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Madera County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,460 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $28.08 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Madera County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,264 $24.31 $50,560
1 bedroom $1,272 $24.46 $50,880
2 bedrooms $1,460 $28.08 $58,400
3 bedrooms $2,022 $38.88 $80,880
4 bedrooms $2,440 $46.92 $97,600

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Chowchilla

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Chowchilla is in ZIP code 93610.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,360: $100 less than the fair market rent for Madera County ($1,460).

  • 93610 $1,360$1,880

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Chowchilla when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Chowchilla

HUD lists 7 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Chowchilla. These are the largest.

  • The Village at Chowchilla 297 Myer Dr, Chowchilla 93610 81 homes, 80 low-income · 1 bd: 16 · 2 bd: 20 · 3 bd: 45 · In service since 2006 · For families
  • Shasta Villas 96 Shasta Ct, Chowchilla 93610 72 homes, 71 low-income · 1 bd: 8 · 2 bd: 40 · 3 bd: 24 · In service since 2010 · For families
  • Shasta Court 96 Shasta Ct, Chowchilla 93610 60 homes, 59 low-income · 2 bd: 40 · 3 bd: 20 · In service since 2012 · For families
  • Washington Square Apts 255 Washington Rd, Chowchilla 93610 57 homes, 56 low-income · 1 bd: 16 · 2 bd: 12 · 3 bd: 29 · In service since 2001 · For families
  • Chowchilla Garden Apts 300 Myer Dr, Chowchilla 93610 54 homes, 53 low-income · 1 bd: 6 · 2 bd: 30 · 3 bd: 14 · 4 bd: 4 · In service since 1995 · For families

See all 27 buildings in Madera County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Chowchilla

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Madera County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A man shakes hands with the specialist who helped him with his loan, in the kitchen of his new home.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Chowchilla

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Chowchilla or Madera County. The ones below are statewide in California: they work in Chowchilla the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in California

  • MyHome Assistance Program

    Statewide in California

    CalHFA second loan with deferred payments for the down payment or closing costs of first-time buyers in California. Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • California Dream For All Shared Appreciation Loan

    Statewide in California

    Closed, per the source

    CalHFA down payment loan for first-generation buyers in California; when you sell, you repay the loan plus a share of the home's appreciation. Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).

    Shared appreciation

    See the program Official page

  • MyAccess Program

    Statewide in California

    CalHFA second loan with deferred payments for the down payment or closing costs of first-time buyers who use the CalPLUS Access mortgage (FHA or conventional). Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Chowchilla

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Chowchilla, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Community Housing Council of Fresno

    2560 W Shaw Ln Ste 101, Fresno · 31 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 7 more
    (559) 221-6919

  • Fresno Interdenominational Refugee Ministries

    1940 N Fresno St, Fresno · 35 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 11 more
    (559) 487-1500

  • Southwest Fresno Development Corp

    1424 W California Ave, Fresno · 36 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 4 more
    (559) 209-8031

All counseling agencies in California

Help in Spanish near Chowchilla

1 of the 3 agencies on this list says it serves in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Chowchilla

In HUD’s record, no housing authority with an office in Madera County is named for Chowchilla or Madera County.

One other authority has an office in Madera County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Madera County

These cities are also in Madera County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Madera County Housing in California

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Chowchilla, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Madera County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Chowchilla.

All guides
A father and mother walk their son by the hand down the sidewalk.

Questions

Housing questions about Chowchilla

Short answers with the numbers for Chowchilla and all of Madera County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Chowchilla?

The typical home value in Chowchilla is $364,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Madera County it is $393,200.

How much does it cost to rent in Chowchilla?

Typical rent in Chowchilla is $1,178 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Madera County is $1,460.

What is the FHA loan limit in Chowchilla?

Chowchilla uses the FHA limit for all of Madera County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Chowchilla?

The typical homeowner in Chowchilla pays $3,064 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.84% of the home’s value; in Madera County, the rate is 0.7%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Chowchilla?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Madera County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).