Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chico, CA
VS
Irvine, CA
🏆 Irvine leads 14 of 23 categories
Chico
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$65,932
Violent Crime Index
184⚠ High
Population
102,790
Irvine
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$122,948 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
304,527 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chico, CA
Pros
Homes cost $598k less ($427,600 vs $1,025,700)
Rent averages $1389/mo less ($1,360 vs $2,749)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Irvine
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Irvine by $57,016/yr
Violent crime (699.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 5.5%)
Irvine, CA
Pros
Households earn $57,016 more per year on average
88% less violent crime than Chico
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (84.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 56°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,025,700
Higher rents — median is $2,749/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Chico
Key Differences at a Glance
Chico
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 104.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Chico
Median Home Value
$598k less
$427,600 vs $1,025,700
Chico
Summer Heat
10.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 85.1°F
Irvine
Median Income
$57,016
$122,948 vs $65,932/yr
Irvine
Violent Crime
88% lower
84.0 vs 699.2 per 100k
Irvine
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chico, CA | Irvine, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $427,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,025,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,360⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,749⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,932 | $122,948 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 24.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% | 23.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.3% | 70.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% | 96.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Inspire School of Arts and Sciences District | Irvine Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.1°F | 67.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer | 85.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.3" | 14.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,790 | 304,527 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 33.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.1% ✓ Higher | 43.9% |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 21.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chico's cost of living index is 104.6 vs Irvine's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Chico is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Irvine leads 14 of 23 categories. Chico wins 9 and Irvine wins 14. 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 Irvine or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($427,600 vs $1,025,700 median home), income ($65,932 vs $122,948), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chico, CA and Irvine, CA are about 476 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.