Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charlotte, NC
VS
Chico, CA
🏆 Chico leads 13 of 23 categories
Charlotte
North Carolina
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
193⚠ High
Population
875,045 ✓ Larger
Chico
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$65,932
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.
Charlotte, NC
Pros
Homes cost $115k less ($312,800 vs $427,600)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (4.7%)
Households earn $8,138 more per year on average
More college-educated — 46.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Chico
Cons
Violent crime (733.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3705.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Chico, CA
Pros
5% less violent crime than Charlotte
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $427,600
Violent crime (699.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Charlotte by $8,138/yr
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Charlotte
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 97.0 vs 104.6 (100 = US avg)
Charlotte
Median Income
$8,138
$74,070 vs $65,932/yr
Charlotte
Median Home Value
$115k less
$312,800 vs $427,600
Charlotte
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.9% unemployment
Chico
Violent Crime
5% lower
699.2 vs 733.2 per 100k
Chico
Summer Heat
4.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 90.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charlotte, NC | Chico, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 ✓ Cheaper | 104.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $312,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $427,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,399⚠ High | $1,360⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,070 ✓ Higher | $65,932 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 193⚠ High | 184⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.6% ✓ Higher | 41.3% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | Inspire School of Arts and Sciences District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 52.3°F | 56.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.8" | 28.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.5" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 875,045 ✓ Larger | 102,790 |
| Median Age | 34.5 ✓ Older | 30.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.1% ✓ Higher | 44.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 18.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charlotte's cost of living index is 97.0 vs Chico's 104.6 (US average = 100).
Charlotte is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chico leads 13 of 23 categories. Charlotte wins 10 and Chico wins 13. 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 Charlotte to Chico or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,800 vs $427,600 median home), income ($74,070 vs $65,932), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charlotte, NC and Chico, CA are about 2,249 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.