Chico vs Menifee: Cost of Living (2026)

A side-by-side comparison of Chico, CA and Menifee, CA, using US Census Bureau data.

MetricChico, CAMenifee, CA
Population102,790103,680
Median household income$65,932$87,871
Median home value$427,600$442,600
Median rent (/mo)$1,360$1,946

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.

Comparing Chico, CA and Menifee, CA comes down to what you value most. Chico has the lower median home value, and Chico has the lower median rent.

Menifee has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.

Frequently asked questions

Is it cheaper to live in Chico or Menifee?
By median home value, Chico is the cheaper of the two ($427,600 vs $442,600). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
Which has higher salaries, Chico or Menifee?
Median household income is $65,932 in Chico versus $87,871 in Menifee, per the US Census Bureau.

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