Chowchilla is a city in Madera County, California, United States. The city's population was 19,039 at the 2020 census. Chowchilla is located 16 miles (26 km) northwest of Madera, at an elevation of 240 feet (73 m). The city is the location of two prisons: Central California Women's Facility and Valley State Prison.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Chowchilla ranks

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#77Cheapest rent in CA #160Most affordable in CA #100Rent easiest to afford in CA All CA rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code93610

Area code559

Living in Chowchilla

Housing in Chowchilla

$390K▲ 1.5% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Chowchilla home is worth about $390,000, up 1.5% in a year, 49% below the California typical home.

A balanced market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market64

Sale-to-list98.1%

Sold in May11

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Chowchilla

Safety Grade C

Chowchilla reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 73% report less.

Violent crime per 1,000

Chowchilla 3.7

California 4.3

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Chowchilla 6.6

California 18.2

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Chowchilla

Full picture →

About one in 5 of Chowchilla’s working residents works in town. The top destinations are Fresno (9%), Merced (7%) and Madera (7%). Half commute less than 27 miles.

Fresno

Merced

Madera

Sacramento

21%Work in townlive and work in Chowchilla 27 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 5,614Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Chowchilla →

Health in Chowchilla

Health Grade D

Healthier than 9% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with California

1better than CA·21worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 10 are too close to call.

Conditions 1▲ 9▼ 2 close Habits 2▼ 2 close Care 3▼ 4 close Mind 3▼ 2 close Everyday needs 4▼ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

5.5%Fewer adults who have had cancerCA 6.4% · better 15.9%More adults facing a utility shut-offCA 7.3% · worse

Care nearby

Madera Community HospitalMadera · 16 mi · ER

Chowchilla Health CenterChowchilla · 0.9 mi · sliding-scale fees

2 health centers in Chowchilla →

Primary careNo shortage

DentalShortage · part of Chowchilla

Mental healthNo shortage

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Chowchilla · CMS · HRSAHealth in Chowchilla →

Natural hazards in Chowchilla

Moderate

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 53% of U.S. communities.

🏚️ Earthquakes🌊 Inland flooding🌡️ Heat waves

0Does Chowchilla flood?no paid flood claims on record 2Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Chowchilla

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Chowchilla →

Climate in Chowchilla

Full climate →

Chowchilla has mild winters and hot summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 96°, a January night drops to 39°, and snow is almost unheard of.

58° / 39°Winter

75° / 48°Spring

94° / 62°Summer

78° / 50°Fall

How much snow does Chowchilla get?Almost none.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Nov 30, with the last in spring around Feb 12.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.4° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Chowchilla →

Schools in Chowchilla

All Chowchilla schools →

C⁺

School Grade C+

The public schools Chowchilla’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 64% of California’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.

See how Chowchilla’s schools compare in CA →

DistrictChowchilla ElementarySchools6

Merle L. Fuller ElementaryElementary · Grades K–2 · 508 students Ronald Reagan ElementaryElementary · Grades 3–4 · 490 students Stephens ElementaryElementary · Grades K–2 · 217 students Wilson MiddleMiddle · Grades 7–8 · 470 students Chowchilla Union High B-High · Grades 9–12 · 1,017 students Gateway High (Continuation) CHigh · Grades 9–12 · 74 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within CA. Ratings are from neighbors.