Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chico, CA
VS
Germantown, MD
🏆 It's a dead heat — 10 categories each
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 ✓ Larger
Germantown
Maryland
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,268 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
90,210
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chico, CA
Pros
Rent averages $548/mo less ($1,360 vs $1,908)
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 39°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Germantown
Cons
Median income trails Germantown by $43,336/yr
Violent crime (699.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 5.2%)
Pricier housing — median home is $427,600
Germantown, MD
Pros
Households earn $43,336 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $34k less ($393,700 vs $427,600)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 95°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,908/mo
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Chico
Key Differences at a Glance
Chico
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 104.6 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Chico
Summer Heat
10.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 84.3°F
Germantown
Median Income
$43,336
$109,268 vs $65,932/yr
Germantown
Median Home Value
$34k less
$393,700 vs $427,600
Germantown
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chico, CA | Germantown, MD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 108.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $427,600⚠ High | $393,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,360⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,908⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,932 | $109,268 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 33.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% | 16.7% ✓ 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) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.3% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% ✓ Higher | 89.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Inspire School of Arts and Sciences District | Montgomery County Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.1°F ✓ Warmer | 39.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer | 84.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.3" ✓ Drier | 46.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 32.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,790 ✓ Larger | 90,210 |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.1% | 65.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 24.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chico's cost of living index is 104.6 vs Germantown's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Chico is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 10 categories each. Chico wins 10 and Germantown 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 Germantown or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($427,600 vs $393,700 median home), income ($65,932 vs $109,268), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chico, CA and Germantown, MD are about 2,352 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.