Chico, California
Among the top 4% of US places for weather.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade F, better than 6% of US places
WeatherWeather: grade A+, better than 96% of US places
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade B, better than 51% of US places
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade A, better than 90% of US places
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade B, better than 62% of US places
- top 6% for sunny days
- top 6% for commute time
- bottom 3% for income tax
Chico is a city in California with about 103,000 residents. It grades A+ for weather and F for affordability. Standout strengths include sunny days, commute time, and summer humidity. It rates lower on estimated total tax burden and income tax.
Official websitechico.ca.us (opens in new tab)
Climate
Hot, dry summers · Cool winters · Moderate rain
cool
comfortable
warm
hot
swelt.
hot
warm
cool
97%61%clearovercast
Precipitation 5.1 in0.3 in
dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$66k55th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$54kbetter than 21% of US places
Home Value$428k87th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$1kbetter than 20% of US places
Monthly Owner Costs$2kbetter than 17% of US places
Property Tax Rate0.74%better than 69% of US places
Income Tax13.30%better than 3% of US places
Sales Tax8.85%better than 19% of US places
Estimated total tax burden21.03%better than 4% of US places
Unemployment6.9%better than 26% of US places
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)47°F85th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)81°F77th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation28.3 in22nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall0.1 inbetter than 87% of US places
Sunny Days293 daysbetter than 94% of US places
Summer Humidity52°Fbetter than 88% of US places
Comfortable Days84 daysbetter than 55% of US places
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk50.4better than 70% of US places
Air Quality42 AQIbetter than 68% of US places
School Quality62.4better than 56% of US places
Violent Crime1066/100kbetter than 33% of US places
Property Crime1661/100kbetter than 26% of US places
Community
Population102,79099th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age30.410th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.4276th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio0.9646th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningEven28th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)67.9%29th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)2.0%65th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)19.2%84th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)4.9%90th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)6.0%77th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time18 minbetter than 94% of US places
Walkability9.0/20better than 82% of US places
Airport Distance74 mibetter than 52% of US places
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access92.5%better than 74% of US places
Amenities Nearby20.92better than 22% of US places
Park & Nature AccessExcellentbetter than 76% of US places
Similar places
Frequently asked questions
- Is Chico an affordable place to live?
- Chico is relatively expensive. Its cost-of-living index is $54k, better than 21% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in Chico?
- The median home value in Chico is $428k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in Chico?
- Median household income in Chico is $66k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in Chico?
- Median gross rent in Chico is $1k a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is Chico safe?
- Chico is higher-crime than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 1066/100k (better than 33%). Property crime is 1661/100k.
- What is the weather like in Chico?
- Chico averages 81°F in July and 47°F in January, with 28.3 in of annual precipitation and about 293 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Chico?
- Public-school quality in Chico is about average, scoring better than 56% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Chico?
- The average one-way commute in Chico is 18 min.
Places near Chico
Compare Chico
Explore California
Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)