Is Chico, CA a Good Place to Live in 2024?

What Is Chico, CA Known For?

Chico is situated about 90 miles north of Sacramento, the nearest metro area. The city is a nexus of outdoor adventure, educational opportunity, and craft beer culture. With its university anchoring the community, the city's parks and rivers offer leisure for families, retirees, and students.

Chico leans more towards the liberal side and is quite diverse in race, with a mix of white, Hispanic, and Asian communities. The LGBTQ+ community is also fairly visible and active here.

For retirees, there's a sense of community in public gardens and local book clubs. Students enjoy a vibrant campus life and a close-knit community feel. Families gravitate toward the abundance of parks and recreational activities. Singles and couples appreciate the buzzing local arts scene and the numerous coffee shops that dot the city.

Highlights

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Pros and Cons

The Pros of living in Chico, CA, include outdoor activities, educational opportunities, arts and culture, and more. While some Cons are around housing cost, seasonal weather, and public transport.
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Safety and Crime

Chico, CA is ranked 167th out of the top 500 most populated cities in the US for highest overall safety, is ranked 186th on safety from violent crime, and 92nd on safety from property crime.
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Cost of Living

Compared to the rest of the US, the cost of living in Chico, CA is 18% lower than the national average.
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Discretionary Income

A gross annual salary of $80,000 in Chico, CA leaves $1,809 of “money in the pocket” per month on average.
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Climate and Weather

The average daily temperature in Chico, CA in January is 45°F and 78°F in July. Compared to the rest of the 333 most populated cities in the US, this city is on average +2°F warmer in January and is on average -1°F cooler in July.
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Politics and Voting

Chico, CA voted for the Democrat party in the 2020 Presidential election, with 49.4% of the votes counted going to this party.
Read more in Politics and Voting.

The assessments presented on this website, including those related to crime, safety, cost of living, and other location characteristics (e.g., states, cities, towns, villages, neighborhoods, areas, landmarks), are based on various sources and our internal research methods. These assessments are not guaranteed to be accurate or complete and should not be used as the sole basis for making any decisions.