Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chico, CA
VS
Fort Worth, TX
🏆 Fort Worth leads 13 of 22 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
Fort Worth
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,726 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
924,663 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chico, CA
Pros
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 41.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
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 5.3%)
Median income trails Fort Worth by $6,794/yr
Fort Worth, TX
Pros
Homes cost $177k less ($250,300 vs $427,600)
34% less violent crime than Chico
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.3%)
Households earn $6,794 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (458.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2699.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Worth
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 104.6 (100 = US avg)
Fort Worth
Median Income
$6,794
$72,726 vs $65,932/yr
Fort Worth
Violent Crime
34% lower
458.4 vs 699.2 per 100k
Fort Worth
Median Home Value
$177k less
$250,300 vs $427,600
Fort Worth
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chico, CA | Fort Worth, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.6⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $427,600⚠ High | $250,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,360⚠ High | $1,313 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,932 | $72,726 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 27.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 10.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 14.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.3% ✓ Higher | 31.2% |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% ✓ Higher | 84.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Inspire School of Arts and Sciences District | FORT WORTH ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.1°F | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.3" ✓ Drier | 35.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 2.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,790 | 924,663 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 33.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.1% | 56.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 26.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chico's cost of living index is 104.6 vs Fort Worth's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Fort Worth is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fort Worth leads 13 of 22 categories. Chico wins 9 and Fort Worth 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 Fort Worth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($427,600 vs $250,300 median home), income ($65,932 vs $72,726), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chico, CA and Fort Worth, TX are about 1,440 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.