Max and Ollie Lueddemann House · National Register of Historic Places
Madras’s story
124 years in pictures
The archive holds 3 maps from 1963 on.
3 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1902Madras is settled
MadrasOR
A town of 7,829, settled in 1902.
Photo: Tedder · CC BY 3.0
Population
7,829
2025 Census estimate · +4.8% since 2020
Typical home
$359K
+0.2% in a year
Household income
$65K
median
Median age
32.6
years
Jobs based here
3,647
Balanced
TownGrade
D
#108 of 142 in OR
Is Madras a good place to live?
Madras earns a D, 108th of 142 graded towns in Oregon, mostly because of incomes and safety. The median household income is $65K, and 18% of residents live below the poverty line. Its crime rate is higher than 83% of U.S. towns, with 34 violent crimes reported to the FBI in 2024. One bright spot: it is more walkable than 82% of U.S. towns. 35% of working residents work locally in Madras, against 9.5% in Oregon’s towns and 8% across U.S. towns. Madras has 3 places on the National Register of Historic Places, among them Max and Ollie Lueddemann House and Madras Army Air Field North Hangar. Among 142 Oregon towns, just 2 have a higher share of children under 18 than Madras.
What makes Madras stand out
Where Madras beats most towns.
A growing town
Madras has grown 29% since 2010
6,046 counted in 2010 and 7,456 in 2020; an estimated 7,829 in 2025.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How Madras grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Oregon), ordered by how far Madras is from typical.
Jobs & incomeDOpen →SafetyC−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 10.8 of 20; 8.7% of households have no carA−Open →HealthSt. Charles Madras 2.7 miles awayC+Open →SchoolsC+Open →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listC+Open →Cost of livingB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors3 miles of trails; 2% conserved landBOpen →History3 places on the National Register; 3 notable people born hereC−Open →Civic life8.1 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsB+Open →
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 32.6; 21% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Madras: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Madras, and how to reach them.
PowerPacific Power15.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterCity of Madras water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet7 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Madras’ trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Oregon you can register online until 21 days before Election Day, in person until 21 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 21 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereJefferson County Clerk, Elections OfficeJefferson County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2025
ZIP code9774197741 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Oct 2, 2026.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Madras.
Madras is healthier than towns with similar incomes, has seen reported crime fall by about half and has milder winter nights than most of the country, though not than most of Oregon.
SafetyC−
For safety, Madras earns a C−
Reported crimes fell from 339 to 100 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings.
Madras’ violent crime rate is 4.3 per 1,000 residents. Madras reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 83% report less. Madras’ property crime rate is 23.6 per 1,000 residents.
17%of U.S. towns report more crimeC−Safety Grade
| Madras | Oregon towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2024) | 4.3 per 1,000 residents | 2.3 | 1.7 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2024) | 23.6 per 1,000 residents | 18.3 | 11.5 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Madras4.3
Oregon3.4
U.S.3.6
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Madras23.6
Oregon24.5
U.S.17.7
17th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
23rd
percentile among OR towns
34
violent crimes reported in 2024
185
property crimes reported in 2024
FBI crime data, 2024 · crimes reported to police
SchoolsC+
Madras’ schools rank behind 62% of Oregon districts
Its public schools are run by Jefferson County SD 509J. Two of its 6 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Madras High School, with 768 students.
38%of OR districts it outscoresC+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County Middle SchoolLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 426 | C |
| Madras High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 768 | C |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within OR on state tests and graduation
HousingCost of living grade B−
Madras’ typical home value is about $359K
The typical Madras home is worth about $359,000, about the same as a year ago, 27% below the Oregon typical home. 55% of Madras households own their home.
$359KZillow home value
| Madras | Oregon towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 55% | 65% | 73% |
| Median rent | $979 a month | $1,415 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Madras$359K
Oregon$493K
+0.2%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Climate
Madras has four seasons and pleasant summers
January nights average 26.1°: milder than most of the country, but colder than 78% of Oregon places with climate records; July afternoons average 87.4°.
Madras has chilly winters and warm summers, with very little rain. The July high in Madras is 87°F. About 14 inches of snow falls in a winter.
14″snow a winter
| Madras | Oregon towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| July high | 87°F | 82°F | 85°F |
| January low | 26°F | 36°F | 22°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter26–43°
Spring34–61°
Summer49–84°
Fall36–64°
Oct 4
typical first frost
May 19
typical last frost
+1.2°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HealthC+
On CDC estimates, Madras is less healthy than 63% of U.S. towns
Against the 9,867 U.S. towns with household incomes like Madras’s, it is healthier than 52%, so its C+ isn’t only a matter of income.
Madras beats the Oregon average on 1 of 26 CDC measures and trails it on 4. 71% of adults had a checkup this year in Madras.
37%healthier than U.S. townsC+Health Grade
| Madras | Oregon towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 71% | 73% | 79% |
| No health insurance, 18–64 (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 8.4% | 8.1% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 24% | 20% | 19% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 15% | 14% |
26 measures vs. Oregon
1 better21 too close to call4 worse
| What stands out | Madras | OR |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 7.5% | 8.9% |
| More uninsured adults | 14.6% | 8.5% |
St. Charles Madras
2.7 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
23rd
percentile among OR towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade D
Madras has 1.1 jobs for every working resident, and 2,509 people commute in
About one in 3 of Madras’s working residents works in town. Jobs based in Madras grew to 3,647 in 2023, 666 more than in 2013. The top destinations are Bend (11%), Redmond (8%) and Portland (6%).
35%work in town
| Madras | Oregon towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $65,000 | $81,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 24 minutes | 23 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Madras35%
Bend11%
Redmond8%
Portland6%
Warm Springs4%
24 mi
median commute distance
3,647
jobs based in Madras
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
A−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 82% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C+
Madras faces a moderate natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 59% of U.S. communities. Since 1979, 3 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Madras.
59risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingWildfireEarthquakes
3
paid flood claims since 1979
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
OutdoorsB
Conserved land covers 1.7% of Madras
3.4 miles of trail in 7 parks and preserves. The biggest park or preserve is Juniper Hill Park, at 72 acres.
#94for trails in OR
| Madras | Oregon towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 1.7% | 4.4% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.4 miles per square mile | 0.8 | 0.4 |
1.7%
conserved · 88 of 5,187 acres
3.4 mi
of trails · 0.4 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Juniper Hill Park | — | 72 |
| 2. Cowden Park | — | 10 |
| 3. Sahalee Park | 0.2 mi | 4 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Madras
20pages on Madras
The big questions
SchoolsC+Behind 62% of OR districts · 6 schoolsSafetyC−4.3 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2024)HealthC+Better than OR on 1 of 26 CDC measuresCost of livingB−$359K typical home · up 0.2% in a yearWork & commuteD$65K median household income · 3,647 jobs hereNatural hazardsC+FEMA risk higher than 59% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Madras; the nearest are
Central Oregon Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Bend42 mi$5,049 in-state tuitionOregon State University-Cascades CampusUniversity or college · Public · Bend43.8 mi$13,566 in-state tuition
About 5 of every 100 Madras residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Oregon.
Landmarks
3 places in Madras on the National Register of Historic Places.
Famous people from Madras
3 notable people were born in Madras.
About Madras
City in Oregon, United States
Madras ( MAD-russ) is a city in and the county seat of Jefferson County, Oregon, United States. Situated in Central Oregon, it is located where US Route 26 and US Route 97 intersect, with the latter serving as the main north-south road in the city with traffic split into a one-way pair. Originally called "The Basin" after the circular valley the city is in, it is unclear whether Madras was named in 1903 for the cotton fabric called "Madras" that originated in the city of Madras (now Chennai) in Tamil Nadu, India, or the city itself. The population was 7456 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1911
- Area
- 5.0 sq mi
- Elevation
- 2,241 ft
- ZIP code
- 97741
- Area code
- 541
Questions about Madras
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Madras, OR a good place to live?
Madras grades D overall, better than 12% of U.S. towns and #108 of 142 in Oregon. It grades C+ for health, C− for safety and C+ for schools. Jobs & income is its weak spot, with a D.
Is Madras, OR expensive?
That is 4 years of the area's median household income ($89,788 across the Bend, OR 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 B−.
What is Madras, OR known for?
3 notable people were born here, including River Phoenix and Jacoby Ellsbury.