An agricultural city in the Central Valley with a small-town feel
Madera, named after the Spanish word for lumber, built the world’s longest log flume in 1900 for its booming timber industry. Since then, the city’s main industry has shifted to agriculture, with almond orchards and grapevines surrounding the community. Although it looks like a small rural town, Madera has a population of approximately 70,000, and it continues to grow thanks to attractive home prices. “I feel like people are deciding to move here because it’s one of the more affordable areas, but it still has appreciation for the value of homes,” says Realtor Marisela Ramos, who works with The Real Brokerage, Inc. and has a few years of experience in the area. Madera’s Central Valley location also lends itself to easy commutes to Fresno, about 25 miles away.
Madera, CA has very attractive home prices.
Madera is known for growing almond orchards and grapevines.
The Zero Gravity Skatepark is located at Madera Rotary Park.
Golfers can practice on the driving range at Madera Municipal Golf Course.
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Bungalows downtown and farmhouses on the outskirts
The center of Madera is composed of grid-style streets of historic houses, which include Craftsman bungalows from the early 1900s. The town expands into subdivisions of midcentury ranch-style homes, and then sprawls even farther with new cul-de-sacs of contemporary houses. On the rural outskirts of the city, farmhouses occupy multiacre lots. The city's median housing price is around $425,000, but large farmhouses with land can reach $1.25 million. Homes stay on the market for an average of 45 days, higher than the national average of 44 days. Interested buyers may have to wait for their ideal home to pop up on the market. “I think we still need more homes, although this is a nationwide thing," Ramos says.
Larger craftsman style homes are available on the outskirts of Madera.
Bungalow style homes are common in areas surrounding Downtown Madera.
Farmhouses on big properties can be found on the perimeter of Madera.
Newer contemporary homes provides more housing for the growing city of Madera.
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Yosemite Avenue and more shopping hubs
In the middle of Madera, East Yosemite Avenue is the city’s Main Street-style downtown. The walkable district has a few blocks of clothing shops, restaurants and more local businesses. Madera Marketplace, which serves the northern part of town, is one of the biggest strip malls in the area. It has two grocery stores as well as more local restaurants. About a mile south of downtown, Bethard Square Shopping Center has more retail, plus a Madera mainstay dinner spot. Since 1977, The Vineyard Restaurant & Bar has served house-made Italian food with local wines. Because grapes are one of the city’s top crops, Madera has multiple wineries on its western side, including Quady Winery and the San Joaquin Winery.
Ortiz Western Wear in Madera, CA has a great selection of boots, hats, and clothes.
Yosemite Avenue is the main street in Madera, CA.
The Vineyard Restaurant & Bar is a highly rated Italian restaurant in Madera, CA.
Madera is home to a few wineries like Toca Madera Winery.
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Madera's biggest events and attractions
At the annual Madera District Fair in September, there are three days of carnival rides, concerts and food vendors. In December, the Downtown Madera Christmas Light Parade brings elaborate floats and decorations to Yosemite Avenue. For a more frequent event, the Madera Flea Market happens every Wednesday and Sunday. Visitors can browse 400 to 500 vendor stalls, selling items ranging from fresh produce to furniture.
One of the city’s main attractions is the Madera 2 Drive-In on the north side of town. From spring through autumn, it offers double features and a snack bar. In the heart of the city, Madera County Historical Society is a museum within a former courthouse from 1900. It displays local artifacts, including the preserved original courtroom and gold-mining equipment. Soon the North Fork Casino will be another of the city’s attractions, projected to open in early 2026. “We are getting a casino, and a lot of people are looking forward to that. It will draw more value to the area,” Ramos says.
The Madera County Historical Society is a museum located at Madera County Courthouse Park.
This 9/11 Memorial is located at Madera County Courthouse Park in Downtown Madera.
Enjoy a new movie on a summer night at the Madera 2 Drive-In.
Downtown Madera is filled with great parks, shops, and restaurants.
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Recreation options and environmental factors in Madera
The city provides many recreation options with over two dozen parks, trails and indoor facilities. The most popular is Lions Town & Country Park, about 50 acres of land on the western side of Madera. The park’s tree-lined walking trails are a highlight, especially in the autumn as the leaves change. It also has a disc golf course, ballfields and a picnic pavilion. Centennial Park, located on the eastern part of the city, offers a swimming pool, a playground and a youth center. The center's activities include cooking classes, dancing and more. On the northwestern outskirts of Madera, there’s the Madera Municipal Golf Course, a public 18-hole course with a clubhouse. The city is considered a gateway to Yosemite National Park, located about 60 miles away. Madera has a severe heat factor, especially during the summertime; winters are mild, while summer temperatures regularly hit the upper 90s. This contributes to the city’s extreme air quality risk, caused by the city's highways and farming.
The playground at Lions Town & Country Park in Madera is fun for the entire family.
Play a melody on the xylophone at Madera County Courthouse Park in Madera, CA.
Madera Municipal Golf Course is surrounded by farmland.
Mature trees provide shade along walk trails at Lions Town & Country Park in Madera, CA.
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Madera Unified public schools and nearby universities
The community is served by the Madera Unified School District, which has a B-minus rating on Niche. It earns B ratings in teachers, college prep and administration. With approximately 20,000 students, the district’s student-teacher ratio is 21-to-1. Nearby higher education includes California State University, Fresno, and the University of California Merced.
The staff and teachers at Alview Elementary School in Madera are caring.
Madera High School prepare students for their future.
Firebaugh Middle School in Madera, CA is a safe and nurturing environment.
Fairmead Elementary School in Madera is a highly rated school.
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25 miles to Fresno, 35 to Merced
Most Madera residents commute to work via state Route 99. Using this highway, the city is about 25 miles from Fresno and 35 miles from Merced. Some residents work at Madera's major employers, including Valley Children's Hospital and the Madera County government. For public transportation, there’s the Madera County Transportation Commission bus system. In the northern part of the city, Madera Amtrak Station offers the San Joaquins train to Bakersfield and Oakland. Fresno Yosemite International Airport is about 25 miles away.
Madera Police Department and crime rates
The violent crime rate in Madera is higher than the state and national rates, while the property crime rate is lower. In 2023, the city averaged a violent crime rate of about 150 incidents per 100,000 residents each month, compared to 104 in broader California and around 113 in the United States. Incidents of property crime happened at a rate of 104 each month, compared to 197 in broader California and around 163 nationally.
Written By
Anna Anderson
Photography Contributed By
Kiet Tat
Video By
Tyler Hall
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On average, homes in Madera, CA sell after 48 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Madera, CA over the last 12 months is $443,750, up 6% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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