Guest, Sign inJoin
Compare towns

Chowchilla vs Selma

51 miles apart. The biggest differences: trails (10× in Chowchilla) and street grid (3.2× in Selma).

×
Chowchilla, CAHomes around $390KCalifornia · 19,020 people
×
Selma, CAHomes around $362KCalifornia · 24,659 people
Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

The biggest differences

Where they part ways

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

★ What stands out · Report cards

Selma places higher on 11 of 22 CA lists

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every California ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Monthly cost

A typical home costs $170 more a month in Chowchilla

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Chowchilla$2,320/mo
Typical home $390K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.84% · or rent about $1,178/mo · Housing →
Selma$2,150/mo
Typical home $362K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.83% · or rent about $1,232/mo · Housing →

The difference: $170 a month, about $2,000 a year, between Chowchilla and Selma.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons
ChowchillaSelma
Snow a year0″0″
January low38°F41°F
July high96°F98°F
Growing season (days)281d337d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)53rd47th
Outdoors & history
ChowchillaSelma
Trails8 mi1 mi
Conserved land0.4%2%
Settled1923—
Archive photos91
Famous people born here214
Community
ChowchillaSelma
Library hours a week26 hrs52 hrs
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined10

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

51 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Chowchilla ↔ Selma51 miles apart
Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

ChowchillaSelma
People
Population 19,020Lowest 24,659Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +1.7%Lowest CA: +6.1% +6.3%Highest CA: +6.1%
Median age 34.2±1.8Highest 10% below CA 32.9±1.9Lowest 13% below CA
Chowchilla and Selma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 24.4%±3Lowest CA: 22% 25%±3.1Highest CA: 22%
Selma and Chowchilla are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 10%±1.6Lowest CA: 15.7% 12.9%±1.6Highest CA: 15.7%
Selma and Chowchilla are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 15.6%Highest CA: 37.1% 10%Lowest CA: 37.1%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 8.4%±1.9Highest CA: 7.6% 8.1%±1.6Lowest CA: 7.6%
Chowchilla and Selma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $66,514±$7kHighest 33% below CA $60,241±$6kLowest 39% below CA
Chowchilla and Selma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $364,000±$21kHighest 50% below CA $315,300±$20kLowest 57% below CA
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,178±$70Lowest 42% below CA $1,232±$110Highest 39% below CA
Selma and Chowchilla are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $3,064Highest 40% below CA $2,621Lowest 49% below CA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 51.1%±8.2Highest CA: 55.3% 46.9%±9.5Lowest CA: 55.3%
Chowchilla and Selma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 19.6%Highest CA: 12% 19%Lowest CA: 12%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 57.3%Lowest CA: 55.9% 60.4%Highest CA: 55.9%
Typical home builtmedian year 1992Highest 16 yrs newer than CA 1983Lowest 7 yrs newer than CA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 26 minHighest 10% below CA 24 minLowest 16% below CA
Work from home 8.3%±2.6Highest CA: 17.2% 4.2%±1.8Lowest CA: 17.2%
Chowchilla and Selma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 20.7%Highest 12.1%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 26.8 miHighest 15.3 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.00Highest 0.69Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Fresno (9%)Fresno (25%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in SelmaFew work in Chowchilla
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0.4%Lowest 2%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 8.0 miHighest 0.8 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.7 miHighest 0.1 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 4Lowest 7Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 35.5Lowest 114Highest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #352 of 574 in CA#471 of 574 in CA
School district Chowchilla Elementary · Chowchilla Union HighSelma Unified
High school in town Chowchilla Union HighSelma High
Students per teacherat that high school 21.1Highest 19.5Lowest
California average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024
Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Chowchilla neighborsTown Square →
T Weaver · 1w

Living in Chowchilla

1 neighbor in Chowchilla can answer.

Selma neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Selma’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Chowchilla and Selma

One tap adds it. Up to 4 towns at once.

Bordering Chowchilla

Towns like Chowchilla

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

Post to Chowchilla

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in