Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chico, CA
VS
Columbus, OH
🏆 Chico leads 12 of 23 categories
Chico
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$65,932 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
184⚠ High
Population
102,790
Columbus
Ohio
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,994
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
902,449 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chico, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 37°F
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 41.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $2,938 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $427,600
Violent crime (699.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,360/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Columbus
Columbus, OH
Pros
Homes cost $215k less ($212,500 vs $427,600)
38% less violent crime than Chico
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.2%)
Rent averages $199/mo less ($1,161 vs $1,360)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Chico
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.5)
Cons
Property crime (2653.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Chico by $2,938/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Chico
Median Income
$2,938
$65,932 vs $62,994/yr
Chico
Summer Heat
10.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 85.0°F
Columbus
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 94.5 vs 104.6 (100 = US avg)
Columbus
Violent Crime
38% lower
434.9 vs 699.2 per 100k
Columbus
Median Home Value
$215k less
$212,500 vs $427,600
Columbus
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chico, CA | Columbus, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.6⚠ High | 94.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $427,600⚠ High | $212,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,360⚠ High | $1,161 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,932 ✓ Higher | $62,994 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 22.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.3% ✓ Higher | 38.3% |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% ✓ Higher | 90.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Inspire School of Arts and Sciences District | Columbus City Schools District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.1°F ✓ Warmer | 36.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer | 85.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.3" ✓ Drier | 42.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,790 | 902,449 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 32.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.1% | 44.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 21.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chico's cost of living index is 104.6 vs Columbus's 94.5 (US average = 100).
Columbus is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chico leads 12 of 23 categories. Chico wins 12 and Columbus 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 Chico to Columbus or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($427,600 vs $212,500 median home), income ($65,932 vs $62,994), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chico, CA and Columbus, OH are about 2,043 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.