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Chowchilla, CA

City in Madera County, California.

Population

19,020

Land area

11.5sq mi

People per sq mi

1,648

ZIP codes

0

Chowchilla and its ZIP codes

Full map

Chowchilla at a glance

  • Chowchilla is about 6.5 times as dense as California as a whole.
  • Households here earn a median of $66,514 a year, 33% less than the California figure of $99,122.
  • A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $364,000 (50% below California) and median rent is $1,178 a month.

Local data for Chowchilla, CA

Counts from official public data

Housing and community stats

Chowchilla, CA, American Community Survey 2020-2024

Full profile

Median household income

$66,514

Poverty rate

19.6%

Median home value

$364,000

Median rent

$1,178/mo

Homeownership

57.3%

Bachelor's or higher

15.6%

Median age

34.2

Average commute

25.8 min

Largest reported origins and ancestries: Mexican Americans (8,868), Irish Americans (1,196), German Americans (898).

Home values and rentsIncome, education and commute

Economy and federal money

Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Madera County. PPP loans are for Chowchilla.

Details

Unemployment rate

7.4%

Aug 2026, 0.0 pts in a year

Average annual pay

$57,887

58,077 jobs, 2025

Income per person

$51,225

BEA, 2024

Federal spending

$801M

FY 2026, $5,126 per person

Madera County economyFederal spending

How people get to work

Chowchilla, CA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates

  • Drove alone75.1%
  • Carpooled15.0%
  • Public transit0.4%
  • Walked0.6%
  • Bicycle0.0%
  • Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.5%
  • Worked from home8.3%

Average one-way commute: 25.8 minutes for people who do not work from home.

Environment and hazard risk

Chowchilla, CA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA

Full report

Natural hazard risk

Relatively High

Top: drought

Storm events since 1996

903

Countywide, mostly heavy snow

Flood insurance policies

467

1.0% of homes, county

July high / Jan low

98° / 39°F

10.8 inches of rain a year

Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone

Health statistics

Share of adults in Chowchilla, CA, CDC PLACES estimates

All 40 measures

Obesity

39.6%

U.S. 33.3% +6.3 pts

Diabetes

13.9%

U.S. 12.1% +1.8 pts

Smoking

18.7%

U.S. 12.8% +5.9 pts

Uninsured (18-64)

16.7%

U.S. 11.1% +5.6 pts

Cities near Chowchilla

NameDistanceLand area (sq mi)
FairmeadCensus-designated place4.5 mi7.7
Le GrandCensus-designated place8.3 mi1.1
Madera AcresCensus-designated place12 mi7.2
PlanadaCensus-designated place13 mi1.7
El NidoCensus-designated place13 mi3.3
MaderaCity14 mi19.7
TuttleCensus-designated place15 mi1.8
Bear CreekCensus-designated place15 mi0.1
ParkwoodCensus-designated place17 mi0.7
ParksdaleCensus-designated place17 mi1.7
La VinaCensus-designated place18 mi0.1
MercedCity18 mi23.2
University of California-MercedCensus-designated place20 mi0.7
FirebaughCity21 mi3.7
Dos Palos YCensus-designated place21 mi1.6
FranklinCensus-designated place21 mi2

Frequently asked questions

What county is Chowchilla, CA in?
Chowchilla is in Madera County, California.
What is the population of Chowchilla, CA?
About 19,020 people live in Chowchilla, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
What cities are near Chowchilla?
Nearby places include Fairmead (4.5 mi), Le Grand (8.3 mi), Madera Acres (12 mi), Planada (13 mi), El Nido (13 mi).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023