Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chico, CA
VS
North Las Vegas, NV
🏆 North Las Vegas 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
North Las Vegas
Nevada
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,774 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
102⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
264,022 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chico, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 41.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (6.9%)
Rent averages $119/mo less ($1,360 vs $1,479)
Cooler summers — July highs near 95°F vs 106°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (699.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $427,600
Median income trails North Las Vegas by $5,842/yr
Cost of living runs 3% higher than North Las Vegas
North Las Vegas, NV
Pros
44% less violent crime than Chico
Homes cost $87k less ($340,200 vs $427,600)
Households earn $5,842 more per year on average
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Chico
Cons
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 6.9%)
Higher rents — median is $1,479/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Chico
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
6.9% vs 8.4% unemployment
North Las Vegas
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 101.9 vs 104.6 (100 = US avg)
North Las Vegas
Median Income
$5,842
$71,774 vs $65,932/yr
North Las Vegas
Violent Crime
44% lower
388.9 vs 699.2 per 100k
North Las Vegas
Median Home Value
$87k less
$340,200 vs $427,600
North Las Vegas
Summer Heat
10.5°F warmer
July avg high 105.7°F vs 95.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chico, CA | North Las Vegas, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.6⚠ High | 101.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $427,600⚠ High | $340,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,360⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,479⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,932 | $71,774 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High | 99 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 93 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.3% ✓ Higher | 17.8% |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% ✓ Higher | 81.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Inspire School of Arts and Sciences District | Clark County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.1°F | 60.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F | 105.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.3" | 4.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,790 | 264,022 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 33.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.1% | 61.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 26.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chico's cost of living index is 104.6 vs North Las Vegas's 101.9 (US average = 100).
North Las Vegas is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, North Las Vegas leads 13 of 23 categories. Chico wins 10 and North Las Vegas 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 North Las Vegas or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($427,600 vs $340,200 median home), income ($65,932 vs $71,774), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chico, CA and North Las Vegas, NV are about 438 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.