The Town FilesMadras, Oregon
City in Jefferson County · population 7,456 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $330,900
- Household income
- $64,659
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 14 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 32.6
Madras is a city of 7,456 people in Jefferson County, Oregon. The median home is worth $330,900, below the typical Oregon town ($394,200). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 75% of Oregon towns.
How Madras ranks
Percentile among Oregon towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Oregon towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Madras is worth $330,900, below the typical Oregon town ($394,200). Homes cost about 5.1 times the median household income of $64,659, which is more affordable than 52% of Oregon towns. Median rent is $979 a month. 54.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Madras | Typical Oregon town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $330,900 | $394,200 |
| Median rent | $979 | $1,312 |
| Median household income | $64,659 | $76,221 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.1× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 54.7% | 71.1% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Madras
| People | Madras | Typical Oregon town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.6 | 41.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.7% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 30.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.1% | 23.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.7% | 10.8% |
| Veterans | 6.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.6% | — |
| Work from home | 3.5% | 12.2% |
| Average commute | 23.7 min | 23.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.2% | 92.4% |
Weather in Madras
July highs average 87.1°F and January lows 24.3°F. About 11.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 14.1 inches of snow (typical Oregon town: 3.1 in). Expect about 31 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 143 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Madras since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Oregon town. The strongest, an F0, struck on June 9, 2004 about 2.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 9, 2004.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 10 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 4, 2017.
Severe weather in Jefferson County since 1996
Jefferson County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 31, 2026 | Fire | FM-5655: Rowe Creek Fire Complex |
| July 23, 2026 | Fire | FM-5647: Akawa Butte Fire |
| August 23, 2025 | Fire | FM-5610: Flat Fire |
| June 17, 2025 | Fire | FM-5589: Alder Springs Fire |
| August 6, 2024 | Fire | FM-5528: Elk Lane Fire |
Jobs and pay in Jefferson County
Jefferson County had 7,031 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,133 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Madras itself the ACS puts it at 10.4%.
Public schools in Madras
6 public schools with 2,112 students, about 15.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madras High School | 9-12 | 765 | 19.1 |
| Jefferson County Middle School | 6-8 | 435 | 15.0 |
| Madras Elementary School | K-5 | 344 | 15.0 |
| Buff Elementary School | K-5 | 251 | 13.9 |
| Metolius Elementary School | K-5 | 232 | 12.9 |
| Bridges High School | 9-12 | 85 | 12.1 |
Towns near Madras
- Crooked River Ranch, OR17.5 mi · 4,912 people · home $462,300
- Redmond, OR27.9 mi · 33,274 people · home $462,500
- Eagle Crest, OR28.6 mi · 2,761 people · home $750,300
- Prineville, OR29.3 mi · 10,736 people · home $425,900
Madras questions
Is Madras, Oregon a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Madras scores better for retirees than 24% of Oregon towns and quieter than 20%. 12.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.6).
How much does a house cost in Madras?
The median owner-occupied home in Madras is valued at $330,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $64,659, so homes cost about 5.1 times income. Median rent is $979 a month.
What is the weather like in Madras?
July highs average 87.1°F and January lows 24.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 11.2 inches of precipitation a year and 14.1 inches of snow.
Does Madras get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Madras since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on June 9, 2004. The typical Oregon town has had 2.
- 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)