Madera County, California Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Madera County is located in California with a total population of 158,790. It is the 32nd most populous county out of 58 in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Madera County is 34.6 years. This is 8% lower than the state median of 37.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Madera County is $75,496. This is 22% lower than the state median of $96,334. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 4% lower. The poverty rate stands at 19.9%. This is 66% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 10.6%. This is 65% higher than the state rate of 6.4%. The median home value is $367,700. Housing costs are 47% lower than the state median of $695,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.9x. 65.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 17% higher than the state average of 55.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Madera County is Hispanic or Latino, making up 60.4% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 30.9%. The Black or African American population (2.4%) is well below the state average of 5.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (60.4% vs 39.8%). The Asian population (2.4%) is well below the state average of 15.0%.

Education

17.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 53% lower than the state rate of 36.5%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 73.0%.