Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albuquerque, NM
VS
Chico, CA
🏆 Chico leads 12 of 23 categories
Albuquerque
New Mexico
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,503
Violent Crime Index
311⚠ High
Population
562,551 ✓ Larger
Chico
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$65,932 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
184⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
102,790
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albuquerque, NM
Pros
Homes cost $182k less ($246,000 vs $427,600)
Rent averages $346/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,360)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.5%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Chico
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1181.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Chico by $4,429/yr
Chico, CA
Pros
41% less violent crime than Albuquerque
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 41.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $4,429 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $427,600
Higher rents — median is $1,360/mo
Violent crime (699.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Albuquerque
Key Differences at a Glance
Albuquerque
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 104.6 (100 = US avg)
Albuquerque
Median Home Value
$182k less
$246,000 vs $427,600
Albuquerque
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.9% unemployment
Chico
Median Income
$4,429
$65,932 vs $61,503/yr
Chico
Violent Crime
41% lower
699.2 vs 1181.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | Chico, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper | 104.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $246,000 ✓ Lower | $427,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 ✓ Lower | $1,360⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,503 | $65,932 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.0% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 311⚠ High | 184⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.8% | 41.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBUQUERQUE | Inspire School of Arts and Sciences District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F | 56.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 28.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.9" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 562,551 ✓ Larger | 102,790 |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 30.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 44.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% ✓ More | 18.7% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Chico's 104.6 (US average = 100).
Albuquerque is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chico leads 12 of 23 categories. Albuquerque wins 11 and Chico wins 12. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Albuquerque to Chico or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,000 vs $427,600 median home), income ($61,503 vs $65,932), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albuquerque, NM and Chico, CA are about 891 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.