$410,339Average Value$238Average Price per Sq Ft74Homes For Sale
A small rural town between Madera and Merced
Set right on Central California's Highway 99, the rural town of Chowchilla offers easy commuter access to area cities like Madera, Merced and Fresno, as well as an engaged, close-knit local community. “Chowchilla is a town with a big heart,” says Kelle Ray, a Chowchilla resident and Realtor with London Properties. “We have a lot of service clubs, and people really show up to support the city with things like the county fair.” Neighbors can be seen greeting each other in leafy community parks and in the local restaurants and shops on palm-tree-lined Robertson Boulevard.
Chowchilla was once known for a 1976 school bus kidnapping, but today, it attracts new residents with a slow pace of life in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley. Since 2020, the local population has swelled, mostly with remote workers, and there's been a flurry of newly constructed homes. New employment centers are now in the works, so city officials are anticipating more growth.
Palm tree lined streets help Chowchilla stand out among the small cities in Central California.
Chowchilla is a small community known for being family friendly in the San Joaquin Valley.
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Housing prices are on par with the national median
As of January 2025, homes in Chowchilla have a median price of about $405,000, on par with the national median but far less than California's roughly $890,000. Gridded streets at the town’s core are lined with minimal traditional bungalows and ranch-style homes built between the early and late 20th century. New traditional homes built throughout the 21st century can be found in the eastside's Greenhills gated community and the westside's Oleander Terrace subdivision.
Ranch homes are common throughout the city of Chowchilla.
Traditional bungalow homes can be found in the older sections of Chowchilla.
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Getting together at local parks or for the annual Chowchilla-Madera County Fair
Playgrounds, playing fields and dog parks serve as gathering spots for locals, and RC Wisener Park serves as home base for the local Little League. Pheasant Run Golf Club is in the center of the Greenhills community, but its 18-hole course is also open to non-residents. About 20 miles east of Chowchilla, H. V. Eastman Lake is a popular spot for fishing, hiking and birdwatching.
Each May, the annual Chowchilla-Madera County Fair is held next to the town's municipal airport. Event highlights include livestock exhibits and the Miss Madera County Pageant. Just outside of town, The Ranch of Horror is an annual haunted house and hayride exhibit that opens in October.
Watch a game of baseball at RC Wisener Park in Chowchilla.
Pheasant Run Golf Club offers a scenic setting to play a round of golf among upscale homes.
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Shops, restaurants and bakeries on Robertson Boulevard
Robertson Boulevard bisects the town, lined with auto shops, chain grocers and thrift stores. Locally owned restaurants often serve Mexican or barbeque, and there are plenty of small bakeries and ice cream shops to visit for dessert. National retailers and big-box stores can be found in Madera, Merced and Fresno.
In June and July, Veterans Memorial Park hosts a weekly farmers market and vendor fair on Fridays, followed up in the evening by a free concert series called Music in the Park; attendees are encouraged to bring a picnic and lawn chairs. About 7 miles south, the Fossil Discovery Center of Madera County is a small natural history museum with interactive exhibits geared toward kids.
Chowchilla Taco Shop is a local favorite for Mexican food.
Bravo Smog displays classic cars along the main street in Chowchilla.
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Commuting to surrounding towns via Highway 99
Chowchilla is located right on Highway 99, which leads 18 miles north to Merced, 17 miles south to Madera and 39 miles south to Fresno. The majority of residents commute to one of these cities for work, but regional bus routes only travel to Madera. Some locals are employed by the two prisons located just outside of town, or at the new AutoZone warehouse that opened here in August 2024. A new biomethane facility is expected in 2025, and plans are being considered for a hydrogen plant and a strawberry manufacturing facility.
The Chowchilla Health Center serves the local community, while the more comprehensive Dignity Health Mercy Medical Center is about 21 miles away in Merced. Chowchilla Municipal Airport is used for small private flights. Merced Regional Airport, 20 miles away, has flights to Las Vegas and Hawthorne, while Fresno-Yosemite International Airport, 44 miles away, has commercial flights to 14 cities.
Grade-based school districts, including the top-rated Dairyland Elementary
Some schools within the Chowchilla Elementary District, which earns as overall C from Niche, serve kindergarten through Grade 2, while other serve Grades 3 and 4. Alview-Dairyland Union Elementary District, rated an overall A-minus, includes Chowchilla's top-rated Dairyland Elementary School, which serves Grades 4 through 8. Chowchilla Union High School District is comprised of one B-minus-rated high school, which bears the same name.
Chowchilla Union High School serves grades 9-12 in Chowchilla.
Dairyland Elementary School serves grades 4-8 in the Chowchilla area.
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New public safety funding for the Chowchilla Police Department
According to FBI data, violent crime in Chowchilla decreased by about 18% between 2022 to 2023, while property crime increased by about 10%. In 2019, the City of Chowchilla instituted a new sales tax dedicated to public safety measures implemented by the Chowchilla Police and Fire Departments; partly due to this new funding, residential burglary declined by 79% between 2019 and 2023.
Hot summers and wildfire risk in the San Joaquin Valley
Chowchilla has sunny weather most of the year, with mild winters and intense summer heat waves. The San Joaquin Valley generally has poor air quality, largely due to regional wildfires and industrial agriculture. Chowchilla itself doesn’t fall within any of the Fire Hazard Severity Zones outlined by the California State Fire Marshal, but nonetheless, the Chowchilla Fire Department hosts community events that focus on fire prevention. The Ash Slough Bypass Canal borders Chowchilla to the north, and while there's some risk of flooding along the canal during heavy rainfall, residential areas are at low risk.
The Chowchilla Fire Department is always ready to respond to any local area fires.
Summers can bring hazy air quality to the Chowchilla area.
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Written By
Andi Sink
Video By
Aiyshanti Green
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Monica Franks,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
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On average, homes in Chowchilla, CA sell after 41 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Chowchilla, CA over the last 12 months is $400,000, down 6% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Welcome to 404 Colusa Ave! This charming 2-bedroom home offers a cozy layout with updated flooring, fresh interior paint, and a bright, welcoming living space. The kitchen features ample cabinet storage and opens to a functional dining area. Enjoy the convenience of an indoor laundry room and a spacious backyard perfect for relaxing or entertaining. A long driveway provides plenty of parking,
Welcome to this beautifully built 3-bedroom, 2-bath home, completed in 2022 and designed with both comfort and fun in mind. At 1,385 square feet, the layout offers a bright and open feel, with modern finishes, stylish fixtures, and smart use of space throughout. Step into the backyard and you'll find the true highlighta stunning pool and hot tub, surrounded by well-designed landscaping and
This well-maintained 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home, offers comfortable living with a practical layout and inviting spaces. Featuring a spacious living area, functional kitchen, and a fully fenced backyard—perfect for everyday living and weekend get-togethers.
- **SECTION 8 READY - 3 BEDROOM / 1 BATH IN CHOWCHILLA** - Fully renovated property, with high end finishes and modern appliances, large backyard - Features: - 3 bedrooms - 1 bathroom - Private laundry room with hookups - Open concept living area and kitchen with an island - Kitchen includes: - Ample cabinet space - Oven/stove
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