Penafiel vs São João da Madeira: which Norte town suits you?
Their January highs are within 1°C of each other (12°C and 12°C). Penafiel has more doctors on foot, lower rents and cheaper homes to buy; São João da Madeira has fewer frosts.
Penafiel
8,065 peopleChoose Penafiel if you want
- More doctors and clinics within a 15-minute walk (14, against 7)
- Lower rents in the municipality (€4.74/m² a month, against €6.38/m²)
- Cheaper homes to buy in the municipality (€1,520/m², against €1,916/m²)
- Less recorded crime in the municipality (21.0 per 1,000 residents, against 28.1)
São João da Madeira
22,079 peopleChoose São João da Madeira if you want
- Fewer frosts (2 frost days a year, against 12)
Side by side
Bold marks the better value where one is clearly better and both values are precise.
Climate
Town-level · ERA5-Land 1991-2020| Measure | Penafiel | São João da Madeira |
|---|---|---|
| January high | 12°C | 12°C |
| January low | 3°C | 5°C |
| July high | 26°C | 26°C |
| Days above 35°C a year | 2 | 1 |
| Nights above 20°C a year | 4 | 6 |
| Frost days a year | 12 | 2 |
| Days with rain a year | 127 | 127 |
| Daylight on 21 December | 9 h 12 min | 9 h 14 min |
| Sea in August | – | – |
Daily life within a 15-minute walk
| Measure | Penafiel | São João da Madeira |
|---|---|---|
| Grocery stores | 13 | 10 |
| Pharmacies | 7 | 7 |
| Doctors and clinics | 14 | 7 |
| Cafés | 29 | 21 |
| Restaurants | 41 | 47 |
Getting around
| Measure | Penafiel | São João da Madeira |
|---|---|---|
| Nearest train station | 1.5 km | 0.5 km |
| Nearest bus station | 0.1 km | 0.5 km |
| Nearest hospital | 0.2 km | 0.9 km |
| Nearest beach | 32 km | 14 km |
| Nearest airport with scheduled flights | 34 km | 42 km |
Housing and safety (whole municipality)
| Measure | Penafiel | São João da Madeira |
|---|---|---|
| Median rent per m², per month | €4.74/m² | €6.38/m² |
| Sale price per m² | €1,520/m² | €1,916/m² |
| Sale price change, 5 years | +80% | +106% |
| Crimes recorded per 1,000 residents | 21.0 | 28.1 |
People
| Measure | Penafiel | São João da Madeira |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,065 | 22,079 |
| Aged 65 and over | 20.9% | 21.9% |
| Under 15 | 13.3% | 12.2% |
| Born in another country | 4.7% | 9.6% |
Natural hazards
| Measure | Penafiel | São João da Madeira |
|---|---|---|
| Earthquakes of M5+ within 100 km since 1900 | 0 | 0 |
Month by month
Town-level · ERA5-Land 1991-2020| High | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penafiel | 12° | 13° | 16° | 17° | 20° | 23° | 26° | 27° | 24° | 19° | 14° | 12° |
| São João da Madeira | 12° | 13° | 16° | 17° | 20° | 23° | 26° | 26° | 24° | 20° | 15° | 13° |
São João da Madeira is warmer by 1°C or more in 1 month; in the other months the highs are within 1°C. Penafiel in November · São João da Madeira in November
Penafiel or São João da Madeira: common questions
Which is warmer in winter, Penafiel or São João da Madeira?
They are within 1°C of each other: average January highs of 11.5°C in Penafiel and 12.3°C in São João da Madeira.
Which has more shops within walking distance?
Penafiel: 13 grocery stores within a 15-minute walk of the centre, against 10 in São João da Madeira.
Which is closer to an airport?
Both use Francisco de Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO): 34 km from Penafiel and 42 km from São João da Madeira, in a straight line.
Cite or link
hexplace (2026). Penafiel vs São João da Madeira: climate, homes and daily life compared. https://hexplace.org/portugal/compare/penafiel-vs-sao-joao-da-madeira/