Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chico, CA
VS
Concord, CA
🏆 Concord leads 13 of 23 categories
Chico
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$65,932
Violent Crime Index
184⚠ High
Population
102,790
Concord
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$107,789 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
128⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
125,007 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chico, CA
Pros
Homes cost $279k less ($427,600 vs $706,700)
Rent averages $777/mo less ($1,360 vs $2,137)
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Concord
More college-educated — 41.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Concord by $41,857/yr
Violent crime (699.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 4.9%)
Concord, CA
Pros
Households earn $41,857 more per year on average
31% less violent crime than Chico
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (4.9%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $706,700
Higher rents — median is $2,137/mo
Violent crime (484.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chico
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 104.6 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Chico
Median Home Value
$279k less
$427,600 vs $706,700
Chico
Summer Heat
7.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 88.0°F
Concord
Median Income
$41,857
$107,789 vs $65,932/yr
Concord
Violent Crime
31% lower
484.6 vs 699.2 per 100k
Concord
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
4.9% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chico, CA | Concord, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $427,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $706,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,360⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,137⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,932 | $107,789 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 33.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% | 13.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 137⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.3% ✓ Higher | 36.7% |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% ✓ Higher | 88.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Inspire School of Arts and Sciences District | Mt. Diablo Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.1°F | 57.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.3" | 18.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,790 | 125,007 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 38.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.1% | 61.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 20.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chico's cost of living index is 104.6 vs Concord's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Chico is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Concord leads 13 of 23 categories. Chico wins 10 and Concord 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 Chico to Concord or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($427,600 vs $706,700 median home), income ($65,932 vs $107,789), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chico, CA and Concord, CA are about 124 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.