What it's like to live in Chico
Chico is a mid-size city in California with commutes that run shorter than most cities and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Chico deals with home prices well above the national average, household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, and air quality that falls short of national benchmarks.
The good
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
The not so good
- High home prices
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- Air quality concerns
- High student-teacher ratio
- High poverty rate
How Chico compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Chico
Based on Chico's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,976
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $59,520 a year
- 59% of Chico renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$93,620
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $46,810
- Homes cost 7.0× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,488/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,488 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices are steep, with a median around $468,100. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $468,100 · 59% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▲ 21% above US
5.2% unemployment
Unemployment here is 5.2%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 102% above US
664 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is a real factor here, with violent rates significantly above the national average. That doesn't make the whole city a write-off, but it does mean specific neighborhoods deserve real research before signing a lease.
Property crime 1842/100k · Chico Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 32% below US
18 min average commute
Commutes run short here, averaging 17.8 minutes. That's an underrated perk of living in a smaller or well-planned city, where time isn't lost sitting in traffic. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 14% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 93°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 37°F.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 3.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 17% above US
42% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 42% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
34 public schools inside the boundary
There are 34 public schools inside the boundary and 3 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 22:1, above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Lassen Volcanic National Park (55 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Chico's strongest points are commutes that run shorter than most cities and a highly educated workforce; the main tradeoffs are home prices well above the national average and household incomes below the national average. A year of median rent ($1,488/mo) equals 27% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people who want short commutes and college-educated professionals.
Other places near Chico
All California guides →Not sure Chico is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.