Coarsegold-1890, 1880
Coarsegold’s story
127 years in pictures
The archive holds 5 old photos and papers going back to 1880 and 3 maps from 1953 on.
- 1899Coarsegold is settled
CoarsegoldCA
A town of 3,967, settled in 1899.
1 bordering townMap →
Photo: Allie_Caulfield from Germany · CC BY 2.0
Population
3,967
Census survey, 2020–24
Typical home
$415K
−0.7% in a year
Household income
$81K
median
Median age
40.8
years
Jobs based here
1,484
Balanced
TownGrade
D
#606 of 841 in CA
Is Coarsegold a good place to live?
Coarsegold earns a D, 606th of 841 graded towns in California. In its favor, it is healthier than 51% of U.S. towns. Coarsegold’s average trip to work is 43 minutes, where California’s towns sit at 28 minutes and U.S. towns at 25 minutes. FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 97% of U.S. communities, with wildfire at the top.
A growing town
Coarsegold has grown 125% from 2010 to 2020
1,840 counted in 2010 and 4,144 in 2020.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts
How Coarsegold grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within California), ordered by how far Coarsegold is from typical.
Hazard riskwildfire tops the listD−Open →Cost of livingC−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 4.4 of 20; 2.2% of households have no car; 2.8% of workers walk, bike or ride transitCOpen →SchoolsC+Open →Jobs & income$81K median household incomeC+Open →HealthJohn C Fremont Healthcare District 23.7 miles awayB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 40.8; 22% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
Moving to Coarsegold: who provides what
Coarsegold is unincorporated, so Madera County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerPG&E37.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterMadera Co Sa1-Indian LakesNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers49% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesMadera CountyMadera County provides services here
Register to voteOnlineIn California you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereMadera County Elections DivisionMadera County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2025
ZIP code9361493614 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Coarsegold.
Coarsegold has hotter summers than nearly all U.S. towns and trades workers with Fresno and other neighbors, but it is a long drive from an emergency room.
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D−
Very high risk in Coarsegold, with wildfire at the top
97risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
WildfireInland flooding
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
SchoolsC+
Coarsegold’s public schools trail 61% of California districts
Its public schools are run by the Yosemite Unified school district. One of its 2 schools is below, with why it’s listed.
39%of CA districts it outscoresC+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coarsegold ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–8 | Grades K–8 | 290 | D |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within CA on state tests and graduation
HousingCost of living grade C−
Homes in Coarsegold are worth about $415K, by Zillow’s estimate
The median property tax bill is $2,391, against $5,124 across California, another input to its cost-of-living grade.
The typical Coarsegold home is worth about $415,000, down 0.7% in a year, 45% below the California typical home. 90% of Coarsegold households own their home.
$415KZillow home value
| Coarsegold | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 90% | 64% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,121 a month | $1,898 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Coarsegold$415K
California$762K
−0.7%
value change, 1 year
4
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Climate
In Coarsegold, expect mild winters and hot summers
July afternoons average 95.1°, hotter than in 96% of U.S. towns; January nights average 37.1°.
Coarsegold has mild winters and hot summers. Coarsegold’s July high is 95°F. About 3 inches of snow falls in a winter.
3″snow a winter
| Coarsegold | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| July high | 95°F | 89°F | 85°F |
| January low | 37°F | 41°F | 22°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter37–56°
Spring44–69°
Summer62–92°
Fall51–76°
Dec 3
typical first frost
Mar 25
typical last frost
+1.6°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C+
About one in ten working residents works right in Coarsegold
Coarsegold has about as many jobs (1,484) as working residents, but only 132 people both live and work here. The average commute takes 43.4 minutes, against 28.7 across California.
Most working residents leave Coarsegold for work: only 10% work in town. 6.2% of residents live below the poverty line in Coarsegold. Jobs based in Coarsegold fell to 1,484 in 2023, 119 fewer than in 2013.
10%work in town
| Coarsegold | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 6.2% | 10% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 9.7% | 6.6% | 8% |
| Median household income | $81,000 | $95,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Coarsegold10%
Fresno21%
Oakhurst13%
Clovis2%
Madera2%
30 mi
median commute distance
1,484
jobs based in Coarsegold
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
C
Walkability grade: more walkable than 32% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
OutdoorsC−
0% of Coarsegold is conserved land
6.6 miles of trail in 1 park or preserve. The trail density in Coarsegold is 0.4 miles per square mile.
#583for trails in CA
0%
conserved · 0 of 11,013 acres
6.6 mi
of trails · 0.4 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Indian Lakes Park | — | 13 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
HealthB−
Coarsegold earns a B− for health
The nearest emergency room, John C Fremont Healthcare District, is 23.7 miles away in a straight line.
Coarsegold beats the California average on 12 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 9.
51%healthier than U.S. townsB−Health Grade
| Coarsegold | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 40% | 31% | 35% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 32% | 35% | 36% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 16% | 16% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 14% | 14% |
32 measures vs. California
12 better11 too close to call9 worse
| What stands out | Coarsegold | CA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer uninsured adults | 6.9% | 10.6% |
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 10% | 14.9% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 12% | 6.4% |
John C Fremont Healthcare District
23.7 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
39th
percentile among CA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Nearby attractions
All 38 attractions →Yosemite National Park and 25 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Coarsegold. Close and well known come first.
Big draw18 mi National ParkYosemite National Park4.3M visitors a year
Big draw36 mi MountainHalf Dome
30 mi Stadium & arenaValley Children's Stadium
36 mi WaterfallYosemite Falls
32 mi MuseumForestiere Underground Gardens
15 mi Scenic railwayYosemite Mountain Sugar Pine RailroadSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Yosemite National Park: Thomas Wolf, www.foto-tw.de, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Half Dome: Jon Sullivan, Public domain · Valley Children's Stadium: Emedina00, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Yosemite Falls: King of Hearts, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Forestiere Underground Gardens: R&sbwn, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad: Bobtalbot61, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Keep exploring
Everything we know about Coarsegold
17pages on Coarsegold
The big questions
Out and about
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Coarsegold; the nearest are
Clovis Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Fresno24.4 mi$1,378 in-state tuitionCalifornia State University-FresnoUniversity or college · Public · Fresno29.7 mi$7,350 in-state tuition
About 3 of every 100 Coarsegold residents are enrolled in college, against 8 across California.
About Coarsegold
Census-designated place in California, United States
Coarsegold, California, is a census-designated place in Madera County, situated in the central part of the state. As of the 2020 census, it had a population of 4,144. Coarsegold holds historical significance as Madera County's last surviving "gold town" and is notable for its Native American heritage, particularly as the headquarters of the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians, a federally recognized tribe. The community celebrates its frontier culture with annual events such as the Coarsegold Rodeo and the Tarantula Awareness Festival. Positioned between Fresno and Yosemite National Park, the town appeals to both retirees and commuters, thanks to its strategic location along Highway 41.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 11 sq mi
- Elevation
- 2,218 ft
- ZIP code
- 93614
- Area code
- 559
Coarsegold’s neighbors
One town shares a border with Coarsegold.
Yosemite LakesCoarsegold
How the neighbors grade
| Town | CA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coarsegold | #606 | D | C− | — | C+ | B− |
| Yosemite Lakes | #590 | D | D | — | C+ | B+ |
Coarsegold and Yosemite Lakes report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Coarsegold with a neighbor →
Questions about Coarsegold
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Coarsegold, CA a good place to live?
Coarsegold grades D overall, better than 10% of U.S. towns and #606 of 841 in California. It grades B− for health and C+ for schools. Hazard risk is its weak spot, with a D−.
Is Coarsegold, CA expensive?
Yes. That is 5.6 years of the area's median household income ($74,468 across the Fresno, CA metro area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C−.