Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chico, CA
VS
Grand Prairie, TX
🏆 Grand Prairie leads 13 of 23 categories
Chico
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$65,932
Violent Crime Index
184⚠ High
Population
102,790
Grand Prairie
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,626 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
197,279 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chico, CA
Pros
Commutes run 11 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
Median income trails Grand Prairie by $10,694/yr
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 5.0%)
Grand Prairie, TX
Pros
Homes cost $185k less ($242,900 vs $427,600)
68% less violent crime than Chico
Violent crime is well below the national average (221.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (5.0%)
Households earn $10,694 more per year on average
Cons
Longer commutes — 28.1 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Grand Prairie
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 104.6 (100 = US avg)
Grand Prairie
Median Income
$10,694
$76,626 vs $65,932/yr
Grand Prairie
Violent Crime
68% lower
221.2 vs 699.2 per 100k
Grand Prairie
Median Home Value
$185k less
$242,900 vs $427,600
Grand Prairie
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chico, CA | Grand Prairie, 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 | $242,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,360⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,381⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,932 | $76,626 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 28.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 9.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.3% ✓ Higher | 26.9% |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% ✓ Higher | 81.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Inspire School of Arts and Sciences District | GRAND PRAIRIE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.1°F | 58.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F | 95.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.3" ✓ Drier | 40.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 0.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,790 | 197,279 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 33.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.1% | 59.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 27.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 10.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chico's cost of living index is 104.6 vs Grand Prairie's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Grand Prairie is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Grand Prairie leads 13 of 23 categories. Chico wins 10 and Grand Prairie 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 Grand Prairie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($427,600 vs $242,900 median home), income ($65,932 vs $76,626), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chico, CA and Grand Prairie, TX are about 1,460 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.