Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chico, CA
VS
Deltona, FL
🏆 Deltona leads 11 of 20 categories
Chico
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$65,932
Violent Crime Index
184⚠ High
Population
102,790 ✓ Larger
Deltona
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,074 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
94,373
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chico, CA
Pros
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 41.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 4.0%)
Median income trails Deltona by $3,142/yr
Deltona, FL
Pros
Homes cost $201k less ($226,800 vs $427,600)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (4.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 56°F
Households earn $3,142 more per year on average
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Chico
Cons
Longer commutes — 34.4 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Chico
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 91.8°F
Deltona
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 104.6 (100 = US avg)
Deltona
Median Income
$3,142
$69,074 vs $65,932/yr
Deltona
Median Home Value
$201k less
$226,800 vs $427,600
Deltona
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
4.0% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chico, CA | Deltona, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.6⚠ High | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $427,600⚠ High | $226,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,360⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,417⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,932 | $69,074 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 34.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% | 11.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.3% ✓ Higher | 18.6% |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% ✓ Higher | 90.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Inspire School of Arts and Sciences District | VOLUSIA |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.1°F | 70.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer | 91.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.3" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,790 ✓ Larger | 94,373 |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.1% | 80.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 22.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 16.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chico's cost of living index is 104.6 vs Deltona's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Deltona is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Deltona leads 11 of 20 categories. Chico wins 9 and Deltona 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 Deltona or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($427,600 vs $226,800 median home), income ($65,932 vs $69,074), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chico, CA and Deltona, FL are about 2,412 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.