Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chico, CA
VS
Peoria, AZ
🏆 Peoria leads 17 of 23 categories
Chico
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$65,932
Violent Crime Index
184⚠ High
Population
102,790
Peoria
Arizona
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,759 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
191,292 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chico, CA
Pros
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Rent averages $278/mo less ($1,360 vs $1,638)
More college-educated — 41.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 95°F vs 105°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (699.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Peoria by $20,827/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $427,600
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 3.9%)
Peoria, AZ
Pros
64% less violent crime than Chico
Households earn $20,827 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (3.9%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.7 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $44k less ($383,600 vs $427,600)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 56°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,638/mo
Longer commutes — 29.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Peoria
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 100.7 vs 104.6 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Income
$20,827
$86,759 vs $65,932/yr
Peoria
Violent Crime
64% lower
254.7 vs 699.2 per 100k
Peoria
Median Home Value
$44k less
$383,600 vs $427,600
Peoria
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
3.9% vs 6.9% unemployment
Peoria
Summer Heat
9.4°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 95.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chico, CA | Peoria, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.6⚠ High | 100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $427,600⚠ High | $383,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,360⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,638⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,932 | $86,759 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 29.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% | 17.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | 57 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.3% ✓ Higher | 34.8% |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% ✓ Higher | 92.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Inspire School of Arts and Sciences District | Peoria Unified School District (4237) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.1°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.3" | 10.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,790 | 191,292 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 41.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.1% | 75.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 18.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chico's cost of living index is 104.6 vs Peoria's 100.7 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Peoria leads 17 of 23 categories. Chico wins 6 and Peoria wins 17. 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 Peoria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($427,600 vs $383,600 median home), income ($65,932 vs $86,759), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chico, CA and Peoria, AZ are about 668 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.