Living in Chico, CA
Mid-size city in California
Chico is a mid-size city in California, home to about 102,000 people, with 214,000 living within 31 mi. Day to day, much of daily life is walkable. Life moves at a relaxed pace, and homes are mostly apartments.
Is Chico a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Sunny: more sunshine and clearer skies than most places
- Low natural disaster risk: 10 federally declared disasters since 2000
- Dog-friendly: 8 dog parks within 9 mi
👎 Cons
- Fewer family amenities than most places
- Smaller job market: about 214,000 people live within 31 mi
- Higher taxes: about $3,279 state income tax per resident, 0.75% property tax
- Few top-rated hospitals: no 4–5★ hospital within 31 mi
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Chico ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in Chico: common questions
What is the cost of living in Chico?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $449k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $2,260 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are close to the US average (index 101, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in Chico?
California collects about $3,279 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 0.75% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is Chico safe?
Violent crime is somewhat above the national rate (1.5× in FBI 2019 data).
What is the weather like in Chico?
Chico has mild winters: winter days average around 58°F and summer days around 93°F.
Does Chico get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is moderate, mainly from earthquakes and flooding: 10 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.44 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to Chico?
The nearest major airport is SMF, about 75 mi away.
How Chico scores
Each bar compares Chico with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).
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Nearby
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Is Chico right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.