Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in North Fork, California
A $332,000 home here costs
$2,567per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.40% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $110,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,839. The real number is $728 higher every month, 40% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Madera County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for North Fork from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 2,914 residents that sample is small. The median home value here carries a much wider margin of error than a big-city figure does, so treat it as indicative rather than exact. The Madera County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
North Fork against Madera County and California
| Measure | North Fork | Madera County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $331,500 | $367,700 |
| Median property tax | $1,948 | $2,575 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.588% | 0.700% |
| Median gross rent | $1,350 | $1,307 |
| Population | 2,914 | 158,790 |
The weather behind that power bill
North Fork sits in Madera County, which averages a high of 97.7°F in its hottest month and a low of 37.6°F in its coldest, with 10.79" of precipitation a year and 56% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,749 cooling and 2,356 heating degree days, which is what sets the $169 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Madera County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Madera County
Full Madera County cost breakdown · Every county in California
Talk to someone who works this market
These are North Fork averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works North Fork every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in North Fork I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in North Fork?
A $332,000 home in North Fork, California costs approximately $2,567 per month with 20% down at 7.4%. That is $1,839 principal and interest, $163 property tax, $51 homeowners insurance, $237 utilities and $277 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in North Fork?
North Fork has an effective property tax rate of 0.588%, based on a median home value of $331,500 and median real estate taxes of $1,948. That is lower than the Madera County average of 0.700%.
What is the average home price in North Fork?
The median owner-occupied home value in North Fork, California is $331,500, against $367,700 across Madera County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in North Fork?
Median gross rent in North Fork is $1,350 a month, against $2,567 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
What salary do you need to buy a home in North Fork?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in North Fork, California at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $110,000 a year. That covers the full $2,567 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for North Fork, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for California.
- Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
- Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
- Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.