Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
Chico, CA
🏆 Austin leads 14 of 22 categories
Austin
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,556 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
958,202 ✓ Larger
Chico
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$65,932
Violent Crime Index
184⚠ High
Population
102,790
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Austin, TX
Pros
33% less violent crime than Chico
Households earn $20,624 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 56.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Chico
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 56°F
Cons
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,549/mo
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pricier housing — median home is $461,500
Chico, CA
Pros
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Rent averages $189/mo less ($1,360 vs $1,549)
Homes cost $34k less ($427,600 vs $461,500)
Cons
Violent crime (699.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Austin by $20,624/yr
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 4.4%)
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Austin
Key Differences at a Glance
Austin
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 104.6 (100 = US avg)
Austin
Median Income
$20,624
$86,556 vs $65,932/yr
Austin
Violent Crime
33% lower
466.9 vs 699.2 per 100k
Austin
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.9% unemployment
Chico
Median Home Value
$34k less
$427,600 vs $461,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | Chico, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 104.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High | $427,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High | $1,360⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 ✓ Higher | $65,932 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 184⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | A- (112) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 41.3% |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | Inspire School of Arts and Sciences District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 56.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 95.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 28.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 ✓ Larger | 102,790 |
| Median Age | 34.2 ✓ Older | 30.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 44.1% |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 18.7% |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Chico's 104.6 (US average = 100).
Austin is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Austin leads 14 of 22 categories. Austin wins 14 and Chico wins 8. 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 Austin to Chico or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $427,600 median home), income ($86,556 vs $65,932), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and Chico, CA are about 1,504 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.