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City · 67,831 residents · Madera County, California

Madera , California

In Madera, a typical home is worth $359,900 and typical rent is $1,353 a month. Compared with all of Madera County, typical household income is 17% lower, the typical home value is 8% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 13 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $359,900

    8% below the county

    51% below California

    • Madera
    • County
    • California

  • Typical rent

    $1,353a month

    3% below the county

    34% below California

    • Madera
    • County
    • California

  • Typical household income

    $63,933a year

    17% below the county

    36% below California

    • Madera
    • County
    • California

  • Households that own their home

    55%

    13 points below the county

    1 points below California

    • Madera
    • County
    • California

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

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$423,208
2.6% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$2,162 a month
2.5% more than 12 months ago

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

Madera 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 Madera apart

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

  1. 55% of households in Madera own their home, against 67% in Madera County.

  2. The typical household income in Madera is $63,933, 17% less than in Madera County as a whole ($76,627).

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

The homes here

Housing in Madera

What homes there are in Madera, 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

The detached house is still the most common home in Madera, but it weighs less than in Madera County: 72% against 80%.

Year built

In Madera, half of the homes were built before 1991; in Madera County, before 1988.

In Madera, 10% of homes have 1 bedroom or none (studios); 67% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 75% in Madera County.

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

The FHA loan limit for Madera County is $541,287, and about 92% of owner-occupied homes in Madera are worth less than that.

Monthly rent with utilities

HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent (FMR) for Madera County is $1,460: about 58% of rents in Madera are below it.

With a mortgage

$1,851 a month

Madera County: $2,052 a month

Without a mortgage

$588 a month

Madera County: $660 a month

Owners with a mortgage

68%

Madera County: 65%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Madera is $1,851 a month, less than in Madera County ($2,052); without one, $588.

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 Madera gained value faster than in Madera County: 61% against 57%.

Since 2015–2019, the typical rent in Madera rose 32%, less than in Madera County (37%).

While home values in Madera changed +61% and rent +32%, the typical household income rose 42%.

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

MeasureMaderaMadera 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 16.1%11.1%8.2%3.4%
People per household 3.823.412.842.53
Drive alone 71%72%66%69%
Carpool 13%12%10%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate3%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate2%3%3%
Work from home 7%10%17%15%
Other means 7%5%2%2%
Typical commute 20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

More households are short on space in Madera: 16.1% have more than one person per room; in Madera County, 11.1%.

More people live in each home here: 3.82 on average, against 3.41 in Madera County.

To get to work, 71% of workers in Madera drive alone; in Madera County, 72%.

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 Madera?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Madera, worth $359,900, 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 Madera, which is $63,933 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $124,072 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 Madera. 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 $12,597 (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

$2,895

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$353,381
Total interest
$508,432
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $6,078 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,492 a month

  • Tight

    $1,492 to $1,918 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,918 a month

    Your payment · 54%

Compared with the typical household income in Madera ($63,933 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$2,895
Principal & interest$2,394
Property tax$192
Home insurance$150
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$159

You need at least $12,597 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

Madera and Madera County

Madera 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).

Madera's own numbers

Typical home value
$359,900
Typical monthly rent
$1,353
Typical yearly household income
$63,933
Households that own their home
55%
Effective property tax rate
0.64%

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 Madera

A typical home in Madera is worth $359,900: 8% below the county and 51% below California. With the typical household income in Madera ($63,933 a year), a typical home costs 5.6 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.

  • Madera 5.6 years
  • County 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

Madera 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
  • Madera $359,900
  • County $393,200
  • California $734,700
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Madera $1,353
  • County $1,390
  • California $2,036
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Madera $63,933
  • County $76,627
  • California $99,122
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Madera next to Madera County and California
Measure Madera Madera County California U.S.
Typical home value $359,900 $393,200 $734,700 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,353 $1,390 $2,036 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $63,933 $76,627 $99,122 $80,734
Households that own their home 55% 67% 56% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $2,295 $2,756 $5,124 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.64% 0.7% 0.7% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 60% 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 Madera

For a typical $359,900 home in Madera, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Madera's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $2,895a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $12,597
    Cash to close
    $23,394
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $159

  • Conventional, 5% down $2,829a month

    Down payment
    $17,995
    Cash to close
    $28,792
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $171

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $2,292a month

    Down payment
    $71,980
    Cash to close
    $82,777
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $2,625a month

    Down payment
    $53,985
    Cash to close
    $64,782
    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 Madera and for Madera County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Madera

0.64%of the home’s value each year

$2,295 a year for the typical owner in Madera.

  • Madera 0.64%
  • County 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 Madera

Typical rent in Madera is $1,353 a month: 3% below the county. In Madera, 60% 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 Madera

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Madera has 2 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,440 in 93638 to $1,450 in 93637.

None is above the fair market rent for Madera County ($1,460).

  • 93637 $1,450$2,010
  • 93638 $1,440$1,990

2 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Madera 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 Madera

HUD lists 19 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Madera. These are the largest.

  • Madera 725 E 6th St, Madera 93638 128 low-income homes · Run by Housing Authority of the City of Madera · Average payment: $525 a month · Average wait: 51 months (559) 674-5695
  • Madera Arms 1725 E Cleveland Ave, Madera 93638 123 low-income homes · 2 bd: 64 · 3 bd: 59 · In service since 1991
  • Madera 813 Terrace Pl, Madera 93637 116 low-income homes · Run by Housing Authority of the City of Madera · Average payment: $890 a month · Average wait: 50 months · Homes at several sites (559) 674-5695
  • Creekside Apts 1601 Creekside Dr, Madera 93638 81 homes, 80 low-income · 2 bd: 25 · 3 bd: 36 · 4 bd: 20 · In service since 2000 · For families
  • Sherwood Point Apts 338 W Sherwood Way, Madera 93638 81 homes, 80 low-income · 2 bd: 21 · 3 bd: 40 · 4 bd: 20 · In service since 2003 · For families

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

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Madera

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 leans over the armchair where a girl is reading a book.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Madera

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

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Madera, 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 · 17 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 · 22 miles away

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

  • Southwest Fresno Development Corp

    1424 W California Ave, Fresno · 22 miles away

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

All counseling agencies in California

Help in Spanish near Madera

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 Madera

HUD’s record names them for Madera or Madera County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Housing Authority of the City of Madera Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (559) 674-5695

All housing agencies in California 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 Madera, 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 Madera.

All guides
A mother holds her laughing daughter on a grey sofa.

Questions

Housing questions about Madera

Short answers with the numbers for Madera 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 Madera?

The typical home value in Madera is $359,900, 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 Madera?

Typical rent in Madera is $1,353 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 Madera?

Madera 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 Madera?

The typical homeowner in Madera pays $2,295 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.64% of the home’s value; in Madera County, the rate is 0.7%.

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

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).