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CITY

Chowchilla

California · 18,730 residents (2025 est.) · 11.086 sq mi
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The short version

Chowchilla has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $66,514. The city has grown rapidly, with population up 71% since 2000. 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than tripled since 2000, reaching $364,000. At a median age of 34.2, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 33% less than the California median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 34.2
US median: 38.9
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 141%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
19,020
+71%since 2000
from 11,127 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,716 / sq mi
+71%since 2000
from 1,004 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
34.2
Unchangedsince 2000
from 34.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:18,730 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
5K9K12K16K20K1990201020202024Chowchilla
202419K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$66,514
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,729 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$21,649
+82%since 2000
from $11,927 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
45.6%
+21.3 ptssince 2009
from 24.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
19.6%
+0.3 ptssince 2000
from 19.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.439
+6%since 2010
from 0.412 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing11.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction11.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Information11.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services7.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance6.5%
US avg: 5.9%
Wholesale trade6.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Public administration6.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Professional, scientific, technical5.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Retail trade3.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.3%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1.3%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.8%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$364,000
+141%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $83,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,178
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $545 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
57.3%
+1.2 ptssince 2000
from 56.0% in 2000
42.7% rent
Vacancy rate
5.2%
−11.3 ptssince 2009
from 16.6% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
43.7%
+2.3 ptssince 2009
from 41.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
44.3%
−14.2 ptssince 2009
from 58.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
5.5
+103%since 2000
from 2.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
66
RELATED:See current rent listings in Chowchilla on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic55.1%(6,129)
Black9.8%(1,087)
Hispanic / Latino28.2%(3,138)
Asian1.3%(141)
Other0%
Diversity Score69.8%(7,770)
2024
White, non-Hispanic32.5%(6,175)
Black5.9%(1,117)
Hispanic / Latino50.3%(9,574)
Asian6.1%(1,166)
Other5.2%(988)
Diversity Score78.9%(15,010)
Diversity Score
79
+13%since 2000
from 70 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
15.6%
+9.3 ptssince 2000
from 6.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
73.6%
+12.8 ptssince 2000
from 60.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
4.4%
+2.4 ptssince 2000
from 2.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
25.8 min
+66%since 2000
from 15.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
75.1%
−7.4 ptssince 2009
from 82.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
15.0%
+2.4 ptssince 2009
from 12.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.4%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.3%
+5.5 ptssince 2009
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.6%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
9.9%
+2.9 ptssince 2009
from 7.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
10.6%
+1.3 ptssince 2011
from 9.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
40.5%
+10.8 ptssince 2011
from 29.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
19.0%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 18.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
35.6%
−15.8 ptssince 2009
from 51.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.9%
+21.6 ptssince 2009
from 28.3% in 2009
Female
50.1%
−21.6 ptssince 2009
from 71.7% in 2009
Foreign born
16.4%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 14.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
3.8%
−18.5 ptssince 2009
from 22.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
11.0%
−3.9 ptssince 2012
from 14.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.8%
−72.6 ptssince 2013
from 80.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
88.1%
+10.2 ptssince 2017
from 77.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
57.9%
−2.1 ptssince 2016
from 60.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
35.0%
−0.4 ptssince 2016
from 35.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Chowchilla, California?

Chowchilla, California has about 19,020 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Chowchilla, California?

The typical household in Chowchilla, California earns about $66,514 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Chowchilla, California expensive?

In Chowchilla, California, the median home is worth about $364,000, and the typical rent is about $1,178 a month.

How educated are people in Chowchilla, California?

About 15.6% of adults age 25 and over in Chowchilla, California hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Chowchilla, California?

About 19.6% of people in Chowchilla, California live below the federal poverty line.

Has Chowchilla, California grown since 1990?

Yes, Chowchilla, California has grown since 1990. The population has added about 13,090 residents, a change of about 221 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →