Chico, CA Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Chico, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Chico →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
Chico counts roughly 102,790 residents, and the median household brings in $65,932 annually — -9% relative to the cities in our dataset, putting incomes here roughly in line with the pack.
In Chico, the median home is valued at $427,600 — above the median across the cities we track (+31%) — and typical rent runs $1,360 a month. Factor in mortgage rates and property taxes when sizing up whether buying pencils out.
At roughly 6.5 times median income, Chico's home values rank among the more stretched we track — buying here takes a larger share of local pay. Chico's home prices have stayed largely flat, rising just 0.48% from a year earlier. FEMA's National Risk Index puts Chico at Relatively Moderate for overall natural-hazard risk — a relatively favorable factor for insurance costs.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $1,360/mo in Chico would take 24.8% of your income.
$288/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($427,600) would take 41.5% of your income toward principal & interest.
$744/mo over the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Chico
Median home value is $427,600 and median gross rent is $1,360/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Butte rose 0.48% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $1,625/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Chico's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively Moderate. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Chico reported a violent crime rate of 664.2 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Chico
Planning a move to Chico? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Chico, CA?
- Cost of living in Chico centers on housing: median home value runs $427,600, median rent runs $1,360/month, and the typical household earns $65,932 a year. Data via the US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022).
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chico?
- To keep rent under the commonly recommended 30% of income in Chico, where median rent runs $1,360/month, you'd want to earn about $54,400 annually. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Chico.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Chico?
- Comparing the two in Chico: renting at the median $1,360/month needs about $54,400 in annual income (30% guideline), while buying the $427,600 median home needs roughly $97,833 a year in principal-and-interest, assuming 20% down and a 30-year fixed loan at current rates.
- Is Chico safe?
- The most recent FBI figures (2025) show a violent crime rate of 664.2 per 100,000 residents in Chico.
See the full salary breakdown for Chico →
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Chico's.