Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chico, CA
VS
Pearland, TX
🏆 Pearland leads 16 of 23 categories
Chico
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$65,932
Violent Crime Index
184⚠ High
Population
102,790
Pearland
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$111,123 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
124,478 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chico, CA
Pros
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
Rent averages $262/mo less ($1,360 vs $1,622)
Cons
Median income trails Pearland by $45,191/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $427,600
Violent crime (699.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 3.2%)
Pearland, TX
Pros
86% less violent crime than Chico
Households earn $45,191 more per year on average
Homes cost $117k less ($311,100 vs $427,600)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (95.9 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,622/mo
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Pearland
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 104.6 (100 = US avg)
Pearland
Median Income
$45,191
$111,123 vs $65,932/yr
Pearland
Violent Crime
86% lower
95.9 vs 699.2 per 100k
Pearland
Median Home Value
$117k less
$311,100 vs $427,600
Pearland
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chico, CA | Pearland, 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 | $311,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,360⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,622⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,932 | $111,123 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 33.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 10.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | 69 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.3% | 47.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Inspire School of Arts and Sciences District | PEARLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.1°F | 64.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer | 93.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.3" ✓ Drier | 53.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,790 | 124,478 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 36.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.1% | 76.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 28.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chico's cost of living index is 104.6 vs Pearland's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Pearland is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pearland leads 16 of 23 categories. Chico wins 7 and Pearland wins 16. 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 Pearland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($427,600 vs $311,100 median home), income ($65,932 vs $111,123), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chico, CA and Pearland, TX are about 1,654 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.