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North Fork

North Fork

$454,836 Average Value
$204 Average Price per Sq Ft
3 Homes For Sale

North Fork epitomizes Madera County living

Located at the exact heart of California, North Fork encapsulates life in the Sierra Nevada foothills. This rustic Madera County community is a relative stone’s throw from outdoor oases like Bass Lake, Sierra National Forest and Yosemite National Park. Yet it’s also within 50 miles of Fresno's jobs and amenities. The homes in North Fork come in an array of shapes and sizes, and many offer space from neighbors. But when locals get together, friendliness is a shared trait — perhaps because, as local Realtor Donna Pride says, people are happy to be here. “People take your handshake, your eye contact, your word of mouth,” says Pride, who’s with London Properties and has been a top producer in the region for decades.

Local region oozes with hiking, camping and fishing opportunities

This area has an abundance of places for outdoor adventure, around what's considered the geographic center of the state. Those who prefer to stay close to home can tackle the Manzanita Lake Trail, which takes visitors by the small but scenic Manzanita Lake and is roughly 2 miles round-trip. The North Fork Recreation Area features a softball field and a jungle gym, plus a beach and a swimming area by South Fork Willow Creek. Bass Lake, just outside North Fork, is a hotspot for boating, fishing and swimming in the Sierra National Forest. The rest of the forest unfurls mostly east of North Fork and includes dozens of trails stretching hundreds of miles, and more than 60 campgrounds. Yosemite National Park’s South Entrance is 27 miles from North Fork, and its varied terrain offers 750 more miles of trails. Some paths take visitors near the park’s signature waterfalls, which are most active during the spring.

Mountain landscape holds an eclectic housing inventory

North Fork’s homes dot spacious lots, along the area’s winding and hilly roads. Some parcels are multiple acres, but most are at least one-fifth of an acre. Houses often sit back from the road, and trees shroud some of them. But when buyers look beyond the veil, they find that no two options are the same. “You’ve got some beautiful custom homes in the North Fork area,” Pride says. Floor plans average about 1,800 square feet across the community’s diverse collection of bungalows, ranch- and log cabin-style houses. Prices start at $200,000 for homes under 1,500 square feet and reach $780,000 for properties well over 2,000 square feet.

Annual event pays homage to logging heritage

The North Fork Recreation Center hosts the Annual Mid-Sierra Loggers Jamboree every summer around the Fourth of July. This tradition, which dates back more than 60 years, recognizes the history of logging in this forested region. The jamboree features logging competitions for sawing, tree falling and more. There’s also a parade and an evening ball. The Fourth of July also brings an annual fireworks show over Bass Lake, which Pride says is a big draw.

Center of North Fork offers popular restaurants

North Fork’s downtown, around Roads 222 and 225, is filled with restaurants and other businesses. Buckhorn Saloon & Restaurant is one of the fixtures, open 365 days a year. “You have people from all over that enjoy that,” Pride says. “A lot of people have their favorite barstool in there.” Pride says the award-winning North Fork BBQ is another draw. “It’s terrific,” Pride says. "Their ribs and pork and beef.” The Gnarly Carrot and Kern Family Farm has fresh produce, and North Fork Supermarket offers more grocery items. North Fork Hardware, open since 1947, sells not only hardware but also clothing, furniture and housewares.

Chawanakee Unified schools are a motivation for moving here

North Fork is within the Chawanakee Unified School District, which has a respected reputation in the region. “Some people move out here and commute to Fresno for an hour just to have their kids in these schools,” Pride says. The district carries a B-minus rating on Niche. The C-rated North Fork Elementary covers kindergarten to eighth grade and hosts events for its students, including a fall festival with a haunted house, food and live music. The unrated Mountain Oaks High offers 8-to-1 student-teacher ratios. Chawanakee Adult School, next to the high school, has GED and career technical education programs.

Route 41 takes drivers to the region’s largest city

Residents have a relatively simple commute to the city of Fresno, using North Fork Road and California State Route 41. Fresno is about a 45-mile trip. Pride says many people choose the rural environment of North Fork over the city, but commute to Fresno for work. The Kaiser Permanente Fresno Medical Center is just under 40 miles away on the city’s north side. Travelers can take direct flights to 16 destinations from the Fresno Yosemite International Airport. Madera County Connection provides bus service to North Fork on the Eastern Madera County line.

Wayne Epps Jr.
Written By
Wayne Epps Jr.

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to Cassandra Gordon, an experienced agent in this area.

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Schools

Source:
GreatSchools: The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process. View GreatSchools Rating Methodology

North Fork Housing Trends

Housing Trends

Median List Price
$489,900
Median Sale Price
$220,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$489,900
Median Change From 1st List Price
5%
Last 12 months Home Sales
8
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
-23%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$204

Neighborhood Facts

Number of Homes in Neighborhood
823
Number of Homes for Sale
3
Median Year Built
1984
Months of Supply
4.50
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,857
On par with the national average
1,927
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
17,859

Open Houses

  • Sunday, Jul 27
    1 - 4pm

    33491 Road 233, North Fork, CA 93643

    $399,900

    • 3 Beds
    • 2 Baths
    • 1,492 Sq Ft
    • 33491 Road 233

    Amazing 2 acre estate offering 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1492 s/f, a 1200 s/f SHOP with a 14 ft.6 Ton capacity built-in crane that rotates a full 360 degrees and a 144 s/f steel framed loft! The amenities of this property are many & include a detached one room dwelling with endless functionality possibilities (short-term rental, craft room, etc.), two 8ft. x 20 ft. steel shipping/storage

    Eric Linville Real Broker

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Homes for Sale

Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Average Home Value





Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

North Fork Has More Owners

Demographics

Total Population
3,759
Median Age
49
Population under 18
20.8%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
29.5%
Above the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$62,108
Below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$78,154

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
89.9%
College Graduates
23.5%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
8.6%
% Population in Labor Force
42.7%
Below the national average
65.1%

Weather

Annual Precipitation
3''
Average Winter Low Temperature
23°F
Average Summer High Temperature
99°F
Annual Snowfall
0''

Area Factors

Somewhat Bikeable

Bike Score®®

1 / 100

Car-Dependent

Walk Score®®

2 / 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score

Walk Score® measures the walkability of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address. CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks.

Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
North Fork
Cassandra Gordon
Northstar Properties, Inc.
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