The Town FilesNorth Fork, California
Community in Madera County · population 3,250 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $382,600
- Household income
- $71,619
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 95°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 60.7
North Fork is a community of 3,250 people in Madera County, California. The median home is worth $382,600, below the typical California town ($596,900). It ranks quieter than 93% of California towns, better for a vacation home than 91% of California towns, better for retirees than 84% of California towns.
How North Fork ranks
Percentile among California towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of California towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in North Fork is worth $382,600, below the typical California town ($596,900). Homes cost about 5.3 times the median household income of $71,619, which is more affordable than 71% of California towns. Median rent is $1,399 a month. 89.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | North Fork | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $382,600 | $596,900 |
| Median rent | $1,399 | $1,827 |
| Median household income | $71,619 | $91,557 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.3× | 6.4× |
| Homeownership | 89.3% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 10.8% | — |
Who lives in North Fork
| People | North Fork | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 60.7 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 40.6% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 13.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.3% | 27.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.1% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 11.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.0% | — |
| Work from home | 26.8% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 30.7 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.4% | 93.3% |
Weather in North Fork
July highs average 95.1°F and January lows 31.5°F. About 33.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.0 inches of snow (typical California town: 0.0 in). Expect about 89 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 89 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of North Fork since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 1 times; the largest was 1.50 inches on May 27, 2009.
Severe weather in Madera County since 1996
Madera County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 3, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4699: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| March 10, 2023 | Flood | EM-3592: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| January 14, 2023 | Flood | DR-4683: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| January 9, 2023 | Flood | EM-3591: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| October 16, 2020 | Fire | DR-4569: Wildfires |
Jobs and pay in Madera County
Madera County had 56,858 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,070 a year. Unemployment was 7.5% in 2023; in North Fork itself the ACS puts it at 11.6%.
Public schools in North Fork
2 public schools with 222 students, about 18.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Fork Elementary | K-8 | 208 | 20.8 |
| Mountain Oaks High | 9-12 | 14 | 7.0 |
Towns near North Fork
- Oakhurst, CA9.4 mi · 5,945 people · home $392,600
- Coarsegold, CA9.9 mi · 4,144 people · home $350,000
- Auberry, CA10.8 mi · 3,238 people · home $375,300
- Yosemite Lakes, CA14.2 mi · 5,022 people · home $374,000
- Bonadelle Ranchos, CA27.5 mi · 5,497 people · home $486,800
- Madera Ranchos, CA28.9 mi · 3,623 people · home $492,600
- Clovis, CA29.5 mi · 120,124 people · home $482,700
North Fork questions
Is North Fork, California a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, North Fork scores better for retirees than 84% of California towns and quieter than 93%. 40.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 60.7).
How much does a house cost in North Fork?
The median owner-occupied home in North Fork is valued at $382,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $71,619, so homes cost about 5.3 times income. Median rent is $1,399 a month.
What is the weather like in North Fork?
July highs average 95.1°F and January lows 31.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.0 inches of precipitation a year and 2.0 inches of snow.
Does North Fork get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of North Fork in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)