Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chico, CA
VS
Phoenix, AZ
🏆 Phoenix 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 ✓ Safer
Population
102,790
Phoenix
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,092 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
1,609,456 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chico, CA
Pros
13% less violent crime than Phoenix
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 41.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 95°F vs 104°F
Cons
Violent crime (699.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $427,600
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 5.2%)
Median income trails Phoenix by $6,160/yr
Phoenix, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $87k less ($340,200 vs $427,600)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.2%)
Households earn $6,160 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 56°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Chico
Cons
Violent crime (799.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Chico
Violent Crime
13% lower
699.2 vs 799.6 per 100k
Phoenix
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 104.6 (100 = US avg)
Phoenix
Median Income
$6,160
$72,092 vs $65,932/yr
Phoenix
Median Home Value
$87k less
$340,200 vs $427,600
Phoenix
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.9% unemployment
Phoenix
Summer Heat
8.8°F warmer
July avg high 104.0°F vs 95.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chico, CA | Phoenix, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.6⚠ High | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $427,600⚠ High | $340,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,360⚠ High | $1,322 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,932 | $72,092 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 25.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% | 14.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High ✓ Safer | 210⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.3% ✓ Higher | 31.2% |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Inspire School of Arts and Sciences District | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.1°F | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F | 104.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.3" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 0.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,790 | 1,609,456 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 34.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.1% | 56.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chico's cost of living index is 104.6 vs Phoenix's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Phoenix is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Phoenix leads 13 of 23 categories. Chico wins 10 and Phoenix 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 Phoenix or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($427,600 vs $340,200 median home), income ($65,932 vs $72,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chico, CA and Phoenix, AZ are about 687 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.