Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chico, CA
VS
Sacramento, CA
🏆 Chico leads 12 of 23 categories
Chico
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$65,932
Violent Crime Index
184⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
102,790
Sacramento
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,954 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
199⚠ High
Population
523,600 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chico, CA
Pros
7% less violent crime than Sacramento
Rent averages $232/mo less ($1,360 vs $1,592)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 41.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $23k less ($427,600 vs $450,500)
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 Sacramento by $13,022/yr
Sacramento, CA
Pros
Households earn $13,022 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (6.3%)
Cons
Violent crime (754.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Property crime (2547.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pricier housing — median home is $450,500
Key Differences at a Glance
Chico
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 104.6 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Chico
Violent Crime
7% lower
699.2 vs 754.9 per 100k
Chico
Median Home Value
$23k less
$427,600 vs $450,500
Sacramento
Median Income
$13,022
$78,954 vs $65,932/yr
Sacramento
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
6.3% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chico, CA | Sacramento, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $427,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $450,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,360⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,932 | $78,954 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 121⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.3% ✓ Higher | 35.8% |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% ✓ Higher | 86.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Inspire School of Arts and Sciences District | Sacramento City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.1°F | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer | 94.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.3" | 20.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,790 | 523,600 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 35.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.1% | 50.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chico's cost of living index is 104.6 vs Sacramento's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Chico is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chico leads 12 of 23 categories. Chico wins 12 and Sacramento wins 11. 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 Sacramento or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($427,600 vs $450,500 median home), income ($65,932 vs $78,954), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chico, CA and Sacramento, CA are about 84 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.