Madras ( MAD-russ) is a city in and the county seat of Jefferson County, Oregon, United States. Situated in Central Oregon, it is located where US Route 26 and US Route 97 intersect, with the latter serving as the main north-south road in the city with traffic split into a one-way pair. Originally called "The Basin" after the circular valley the city is in, it is unclear whether Madras was named in 1903 for the cotton fabric called "Madras" that originated in the city of Madras (now Chennai) in Tamil Nadu, India, or the city itself. The population was 7456 at the 2020 census.

Official town website ↗

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

How Madras ranks

All →

#14Cheapest rent in OR #21Fastest growing in OR #32Lowest property tax in OR All OR rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code97741

Area code541

Living in Madras

Housing in Madras

$360K≈ same as a year ago Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Madras home is worth about $360,000, about the same as a year ago, 27% below the Oregon typical home.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Madras

—

Not graded

A grade needs all of the FBI's latest years (2023–2025). Madras's police department reported only 2024, so we don't grade it yet. The figures below are still real.

Violent crime per 1,000

Madras 4.3

Oregon 3.4

U.S. 3.6

Property crime per 1,000

Madras 23.6

Oregon 24.5

U.S. 17.7

FBI crime data, 2024 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Madras

Full picture →

About one in 3 of Madras’s working residents works in town. The top destinations are Bend (11%), Redmond (8%) and Portland (6%). Half commute less than 24 miles.

Bend

11%

Redmond

Portland

Warm Springs

35%Work in townlive and work in Madras 24 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 3,647Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Madras →

Health in Madras

C⁺

Health Grade C+

Healthier than 38% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 53% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with Oregon

1better than OR·4worse

of 26 measures CDC estimates. The other 21 are too close to call.

Conditions 1▲ 11 close Habits all close Care 3▼ 4 close Mind 1▼ 2 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

7.5%Fewer adults who have had cancerOR 8.9% · better 14.6%More uninsured adultsOR 8.5% · worse

Care nearby

St. Charles MadrasMadras · 2.7 mi · ER · rural critical access

Madras Health CenterMadras · 2.7 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

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

Natural hazards in Madras

Moderate

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 59% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🔥 Wildfire🏚️ Earthquakes

3Does Madras flood?paid flood claims since 1979 2Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Madras

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

Climate in Madras

Full climate →

Madras has chilly winters and warm summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 87°, a January night drops to 26°, and about 14 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

43° / 26°Winter

61° / 34°Spring

84° / 49°Summer

64° / 36°Fall

How much snow does Madras get?About 14 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 4, with the last in spring around May 19.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.2° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

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

Schools in Madras

All Madras schools →

School Grade C

The public schools Madras’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 69% of Oregon’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.

See how Madras’s schools compare in OR →

DistrictJefferson County SD 509JSchools6

Madras Elementary School C-Elementary · Grades K–5 · 384 students Buff Elementary School B+Elementary · Grades K–5 · 297 students 509J On-LineElementary · Grades K–8 · 27 students Jefferson County Middle School C+Middle · Grades 6–8 · 426 students Madras High School C+High · Grades 9–12 · 768 students Bridges High School CHigh · Grades 9–12 · 62 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 OR. Ratings are from neighbors.