City profile
Chowchilla, CA
Merced County · Population 19,020
Chowchilla is a town in Merced County, CA with about 19,020 residents and a typical home value near $364,000. It is 122 miles from Sacramento, CA, which shapes its climate, healthcare access and amenities.
Climate
Climate type
Warm & sunny
Winter avg
50°F
Summer avg
77°F
Sunny days / yr
265
Home prices & cost of living
Median home price
$364,000
Typical monthly housing
$2,193
Cost of living (100 = U.S.)
108
Taxes
- Property tax
- 0.71%
- State income tax (top)
- 13.3%
- Social Security
- Not taxed
- Pensions
- Taxed
- Sales tax (state + avg. local)
- 8.85%
FEMA natural hazard risk
Relatively High · county score 96/100
Top hazards: Drought, Wildfire, Landslide
Nearest major airport
37 mi to Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT)
Political lean (2024 county vote)
Competitive / purple · 47% Democratic / 51% Republican
Community
Population
19,020
Black population
6.0%
County
Merced County
Detailed crime figures are available for our 201 hand-researched cities.
2025–2026 trends
2026 market trends
- ▸More retirees are leaving CA than arriving, mostly over cost
- ▸Home insurance is very expensive or hard to get here — get quotes before you buy
- ▸Home prices are softening in 2026 — more room to negotiate
- ▸Climate/cost risks to check: wildfire, earthquakes
Highlights
- About 19,020 residents
- Typical home value about $364,000
- 122 miles from Sacramento, CA
Trade-offs
- Smaller community with fewer local amenities
- Scores for this place are estimated from Census data and the nearest major city
Figures are estimates from public sources (see How we match). Verify before making decisions.