Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chico, CA
VS
Fort Collins, CO
🏆 Fort Collins leads 12 of 23 categories
Chico
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$65,932
Violent Crime Index
184⚠ High
Population
102,790
Fort Collins
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,977 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
168,758 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chico, CA
Pros
Homes cost $70k less ($427,600 vs $497,400)
Rent averages $216/mo less ($1,360 vs $1,576)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 45°F
Cons
Violent crime (699.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fort Collins by $13,045/yr
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 5.3%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Fort Collins
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
61% less violent crime than Chico
Households earn $13,045 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.3%)
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Chico
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $497,400
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Chico
Median Home Value
$70k less
$427,600 vs $497,400
Chico
Summer Heat
7.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 87.4°F
Fort Collins
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 104.6 (100 = US avg)
Fort Collins
Median Income
$13,045
$78,977 vs $65,932/yr
Fort Collins
Violent Crime
61% lower
272.7 vs 699.2 per 100k
Fort Collins
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chico, CA | Fort Collins, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.6⚠ High | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $427,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $497,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,360⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,576⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,932 | $78,977 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 20.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% | 17.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 103⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.3% | 58.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% | 97.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Inspire School of Arts and Sciences District | Poudre School District R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.1°F ✓ Warmer | 45.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer | 87.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.3" | 16.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 49.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,790 | 168,758 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.4 ✓ Older | 30.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.1% | 51.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% ✓ More | 16.9% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chico's cost of living index is 104.6 vs Fort Collins's 96.6 (US average = 100).
Fort Collins is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Collins leads 12 of 23 categories. Chico wins 11 and Fort Collins wins 12. 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 Fort Collins or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($427,600 vs $497,400 median home), income ($65,932 vs $78,977), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chico, CA and Fort Collins, CO are about 885 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.