Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chico, CA
VS
Green Bay, WI
🏆 Green Bay leads 13 of 23 categories
Chico
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$65,932 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
184⚠ High
Population
102,790
Green Bay
Wisconsin
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,174
Violent Crime Index
130⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
106,846 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chico, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 25°F
More college-educated — 41.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $6,758 more per year on average
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 13% higher than Green Bay
Green Bay, WI
Pros
Homes cost $255k less ($172,700 vs $427,600)
Rent averages $496/mo less ($864 vs $1,360)
29% less violent crime than Chico
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (4.1%)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Chico
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 95°F
Cons
Violent crime (495.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Chico by $6,758/yr
Snowy winters — about 56" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Chico
Median Income
$6,758
$65,932 vs $59,174/yr
Chico
Summer Heat
15.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 79.8°F
Green Bay
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 104.6 (100 = US avg)
Green Bay
Violent Crime
29% lower
495.1 vs 699.2 per 100k
Green Bay
Median Home Value
$255k less
$172,700 vs $427,600
Green Bay
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
4.1% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chico, CA | Green Bay, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.6⚠ High | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $427,600⚠ High | $172,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,360⚠ High | $864 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,932 ✓ Higher | $59,174 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 18.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 7.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | 62 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.3% ✓ Higher | 25.1% |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% ✓ Higher | 88.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Inspire School of Arts and Sciences District | Green Bay Area Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.1°F ✓ Warmer | 24.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.3" ✓ Drier | 32.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 55.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,790 | 106,846 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.1% | 56.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chico's cost of living index is 104.6 vs Green Bay's 92.1 (US average = 100).
Green Bay is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Green Bay leads 13 of 23 categories. Chico wins 10 and Green Bay 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 Green Bay or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($427,600 vs $172,700 median home), income ($65,932 vs $59,174), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chico, CA and Green Bay, WI are about 1,751 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.