Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chico, CA
VS
Evansville, IN
🏆 Chico leads 13 of 23 categories
Chico
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$65,932 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
184⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
102,790
Evansville
Indiana
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,853
Violent Crime Index
317⚠ High
Population
116,906 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chico, CA
Pros
42% less violent crime than Evansville
Households earn $16,079 more per year on average
More college-educated — 41.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 42°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $427,600
Higher rents — median is $1,360/mo
Violent crime (699.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Evansville
Evansville, IN
Pros
Homes cost $307k less ($121,100 vs $427,600)
Rent averages $443/mo less ($917 vs $1,360)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.7%)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Chico
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 95°F
Cons
Violent crime (1206.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Chico by $16,079/yr
Property crime (3678.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Chico
Median Income
$16,079
$65,932 vs $49,853/yr
Chico
Violent Crime
42% lower
699.2 vs 1206.2 per 100k
Chico
Summer Heat
6.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 89.0°F
Evansville
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 104.6 (100 = US avg)
Evansville
Median Home Value
$307k less
$121,100 vs $427,600
Evansville
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chico, CA | Evansville, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.6⚠ High | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $427,600⚠ High | $121,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,360⚠ High | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,932 ✓ Higher | $49,853 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 18.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 4.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer | 261⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High ✓ Safer | 317⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.3% ✓ Higher | 22.4% |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% ✓ Higher | 89.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Inspire School of Arts and Sciences District | Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.1°F ✓ Warmer | 42.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer | 89.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.3" ✓ Drier | 47.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 10.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,790 | 116,906 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.1% | 54.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 21.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 16.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chico's cost of living index is 104.6 vs Evansville's 89.8 (US average = 100).
Evansville is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chico leads 13 of 23 categories. Chico wins 13 and Evansville wins 10. 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 Evansville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($427,600 vs $121,100 median home), income ($65,932 vs $49,853), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chico, CA and Evansville, IN are about 1,837 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.