Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chico, CA
VS
Lubbock, TX
🏆 Chico leads 13 of 23 categories
Chico
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$65,932 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
184⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
102,790
Lubbock
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,734
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
258,190 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chico, CA
Pros
15% less violent crime than Lubbock
Households earn $7,198 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 14% higher than Lubbock
Lubbock, TX
Pros
Homes cost $246k less ($181,600 vs $427,600)
Rent averages $267/mo less ($1,093 vs $1,360)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (4.6%)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Chico
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Cons
Violent crime (821.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Chico by $7,198/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Chico
Median Income
$7,198
$65,932 vs $58,734/yr
Chico
Violent Crime
15% lower
699.2 vs 821.0 per 100k
Lubbock
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 104.6 (100 = US avg)
Lubbock
Median Home Value
$246k less
$181,600 vs $427,600
Lubbock
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chico, CA | Lubbock, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.6⚠ High | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $427,600⚠ High | $181,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,360⚠ High | $1,093 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,932 ✓ Higher | $58,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min | 16.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High ✓ Safer | 216⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B+ (108) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.3% ✓ Higher | 34.2% |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% ✓ Higher | 88.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Inspire School of Arts and Sciences District | LUBBOCK ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.1°F ✓ Warmer | 55.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer | 92.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.3" | 20.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 7.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,790 | 258,190 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.4 ✓ Older | 30.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.1% | 51.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 22.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chico's cost of living index is 104.6 vs Lubbock's 90.9 (US average = 100).
Lubbock is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chico leads 13 of 23 categories. Chico wins 13 and Lubbock 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 Lubbock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($427,600 vs $181,600 median home), income ($65,932 vs $58,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chico, CA and Lubbock, TX are about 1,181 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.