Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chico, CA
VS
Houston, TX
🏆 Chico leads 14 of 23 categories
Chico
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$65,932 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
184⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
102,790
Houston
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,440
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
2,296,253 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chico, CA
Pros
39% less violent crime than Houston
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Households earn $5,492 more per year on average
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 rents — median is $1,360/mo
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Houston
Houston, TX
Pros
Homes cost $193k less ($235,000 vs $427,600)
Rent averages $125/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,360)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 56°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Chico
Cons
Violent crime (1148.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4293.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Chico by $5,492/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Chico
Median Income
$5,492
$65,932 vs $60,440/yr
Chico
Violent Crime
39% lower
699.2 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Houston
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 104.6 (100 = US avg)
Houston
Median Home Value
$193k less
$235,000 vs $427,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chico, CA | Houston, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.6⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $427,600⚠ High | $235,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,360⚠ High | $1,235 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,932 ✓ Higher | $60,440 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 27.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 9.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High ✓ Safer | 302⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.3% ✓ Higher | 35.2% |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Inspire School of Arts and Sciences District | HOUSTON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.1°F | 62.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer | 93.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.3" ✓ Drier | 55.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,790 | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 33.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.1% ✓ Higher | 42.0% |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 23.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chico's cost of living index is 104.6 vs Houston's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Houston is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chico leads 14 of 23 categories. Chico wins 14 and Houston wins 9. 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 Houston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($427,600 vs $235,000 median home), income ($65,932 vs $60,440), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chico, CA and Houston, TX are about 1,642 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.