Madera, CA vs Oakdale, CA

Madera is moderately more affordable than Oakdale, with a 13.2% lower cost of living index. Madera scores 101 compared to 117 for Oakdale, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Oakdale can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Madera is $1,237/month compared to $1,471/month in Oakdale — a 16% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Madera is more affordable at $335,900 median vs $432,800.

Median household income in Madera is $63,619 compared to $86,478 in Oakdale (-26.4%). While Oakdale is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Madera spend roughly 23.3% of their income on rent, more than the 20.4% in Oakdale.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (63.3°F vs 63.1°F). Oakdale receives more rainfall at 12.3" per year compared to 10.8" in Madera.