Cost of Living in Madera County, California
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Madera County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Madera County ranks #2,858 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 9%)
Sourced county brief
Madera County Renter Cost Percentage at 33.6 Percent
In Madera County, the median gross rent as a percentage of household income is 33.6%. This is the official ACS B25071 GRAPI estimate and is 1.9 percentage points higher than the California unweighted county mean of 31.7%. The median gross rent in the county was estimated at $1,390, which is below the state unweighted county mean of $1,691. The median home value was $393,200, below the state unweighted mean of $604,112. Median selected monthly owner costs for owner-occupied units are $1,559. Renter-household median income is $47,645. This report utilizes data from the 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Madera County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 33.6% of renter household income in Madera County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,390 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,559. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $55,600 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The California unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,691 per month. Madera County's $1,390 median is 17.8% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Madera County
Rent Burden
21.8%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,788
per month
Owner Cost Burden
24.4%
of gross income
The median home in Madera County may be a stretch
Median home value is $393,200. Estimated monthly cost: $3,139 vs. your max of $1,788.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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