Fresno metro, CA relocation guide
Moving to Madera, CA
About Madera
Madera (~65,000 residents) is the county seat of Madera County, about 20 miles north of Fresno on SR 99. Founded October 11, 1876, as a timber settlement at the terminus of a major lumber flume — "madera" is Spanish for wood — it incorporated in 1907 and grew into an agriculture-based economy. The city's icon is the 134-foot Loy Cook Water Tower holding one million gallons, renovated in a major 2023–2024 restoration. Madera is the north-metro anchor: closer to Yosemite's south entrance than Fresno is, with the Fourth Street corridor, Madera Municipal Golf Course, Lions Town & Country Park, and the Madera County Library as community anchors.
Home prices in Madera
The median list in Madera is $499,450.
Top places in Madera
- Loy Cook Water Tower — 134-foot city icon (renovated 2024)
- Fourth Street corridor — shops and restaurants
- Madera Municipal Golf Course
- Lions Town & Country Park
- Madera County Library
- Gateway position on SR 41 toward Yosemite National Park
Commuting from Madera
- About 20 miles north of central Fresno on SR 99 — roughly a 25-minute drive. Many residents commute south to Fresno; Madera also functions as its own job center.
Madera FAQs
- What is the housing market like in Madera, CA?
The median list in Madera is $499,450. Median listing price · Sep 2026 - How is the commute from Madera, CA?
About 20 miles north of central Fresno on SR 99 — roughly a 25-minute drive. Many residents commute south to Fresno; Madera also functions as its own job center.
Town links
Schools
Official town resources. School report cards via the National Center for Education Statistics.