Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chico, CA
VS
Oklahoma City, OK
🏆 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
Population
102,790
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,251
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
681,088 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chico, CA
Pros
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 41.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 49°F
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 14% higher than Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City, OK
Pros
Homes cost $231k less ($196,700 vs $427,600)
Rent averages $348/mo less ($1,012 vs $1,360)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (4.5%)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Chico
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Violent crime (676.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2893.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Chico
Median Income
$1,681
$65,932 vs $64,251/yr
Oklahoma City
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 104.6 (100 = US avg)
Oklahoma City
Violent Crime
3% lower
676.0 vs 699.2 per 100k
Oklahoma City
Median Home Value
$231k less
$196,700 vs $427,600
Oklahoma City
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
4.5% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chico, CA | Oklahoma City, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.6⚠ High | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $427,600⚠ High | $196,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,360⚠ High | $1,012 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,932 ✓ Higher | $64,251 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 22.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 8.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer | 162⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.3% ✓ Higher | 33.2% |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Inspire School of Arts and Sciences District | OKLAHOMA CITY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.1°F ✓ Warmer | 49.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer | 93.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.3" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 6.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,790 | 681,088 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.1% | 59.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 13.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chico's cost of living index is 104.6 vs Oklahoma City's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Oklahoma City is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chico leads 14 of 23 categories. Chico wins 14 and Oklahoma City 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 Oklahoma City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($427,600 vs $196,700 median home), income ($65,932 vs $64,251), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chico, CA and Oklahoma City, OK are about 1,358 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.