Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Berkeley, CA
VS
Chico, CA
🏆 Berkeley leads 12 of 23 categories
Berkeley
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,716 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
168⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
121,385 ✓ Larger
Chico
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Berkeley, CA
Pros
Households earn $38,784 more per year on average
9% less violent crime than Chico
More college-educated — 73.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.5%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,280,300
Higher rents — median is $2,067/mo
Violent crime (638.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Chico, CA
Pros
Homes cost $853k less ($427,600 vs $1,280,300)
Rent averages $707/mo less ($1,360 vs $2,067)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Berkeley
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Berkeley by $38,784/yr
Violent crime (699.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Berkeley
Median Income
$38,784
$104,716 vs $65,932/yr
Berkeley
Violent Crime
9% lower
638.8 vs 699.2 per 100k
Berkeley
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.9% unemployment
Chico
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 104.6 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Chico
Median Home Value
$853k less
$427,600 vs $1,280,300
Chico
Summer Heat
21.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Berkeley, CA | Chico, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 104.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,280,300⚠ High | $427,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,067⚠ High | $1,360⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,716 ✓ Higher | $65,932 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer | 184⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 41.3% |
| High School or Higher | 96.1% ✓ Higher | 93.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Berkeley Unified | Inspire School of Arts and Sciences District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.9°F ✓ Warmer | 56.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.1" ✓ Drier | 28.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,385 ✓ Larger | 102,790 |
| Median Age | 32.5 ✓ Older | 30.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 44.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 18.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Berkeley's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Chico's 104.6 (US average = 100).
Chico is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Berkeley leads 12 of 23 categories. Berkeley wins 12 and Chico wins 11. 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 Berkeley to Chico or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,280,300 vs $427,600 median home), income ($104,716 vs $65,932), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Berkeley, CA and Chico, CA are about 133 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.