Madera County
CA · Pop. 158,790 · Suburban County
Madera County, California covers 2,137 square miles with a population of 158,790 and a density of 74.3 people per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated strong, built on hay, haylage, corn. A median home price of $368,000 and an effective property tax rate of 0.7% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 9a with a 263-day growing season, average summer highs of 92.6°F and average winter lows of 30.7°F. Annual rainfall averages 27.3 inches, and with drought risk rated very high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. John C. Fremont Healthcare District is 23.6 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 94.3% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, wildfire risk is very high, drought risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A long 263-day growing season in USDA zone 9a supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
- A low effective property tax rate of 0.7% holds annual carrying costs down.
- Broadband reaches 94.3% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- A strong agricultural economy built on hay, haylage, corn means local markets, equipment, and know-how are in place.
Cons
- Wildfire risk is very high, requiring defensible space, fire-resistant construction, and an evacuation plan.
- Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
- Drought risk is very high, making water storage and irrigation infrastructure essential rather than optional.
- A median home price of $368,000 raises the cost of entry relative to more affordable rural markets.
- The nearest hospital, John C. Fremont Healthcare District, is 23.6 miles away, a real consideration for medical needs.
At a glance
Madera County, CA is a challenging place to homestead on the data.
- Homestead score
- 34/100
- Median home price
- $368k
- Property tax
- 0.7%
- Growing season
- 263 days (zone 9a)
- Annual rainfall
- 27.3"
- Broadband
- 94.3%
- Nearest hospital
- John C. Fremont Healthcare District, 23.6 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Madera County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Madera County?
- Madera County is in USDA hardiness zone 9a with a 263-day growing season, average summer highs of 92.6°F, and average winter lows of 30.7°F. The established crops are hay, haylage, corn.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $368,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.7%. County-level per-acre prices aren't published, so compare current local listings for raw land.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 94.3% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- John C. Fremont Healthcare District is 23.6 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 2 hospitals in the county.
Explore California Resources
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LandWatch
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Lands of America
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AcreTrader
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More counties in California
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Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
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