Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chico, CA
VS
San Marcos, CA
🏆 San Marcos leads 13 of 23 categories
Chico
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$65,932
Violent Crime Index
184⚠ High
Population
102,790 ✓ Larger
San Marcos
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,413 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
59 ✓ Safer
Population
94,360
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chico, CA
Pros
Homes cost $301k less ($427,600 vs $728,800)
Rent averages $704/mo less ($1,360 vs $2,064)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
7% cheaper overall cost of living than San Marcos
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Marcos by $33,481/yr
Violent crime (699.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 4.2%)
San Marcos, CA
Pros
68% less violent crime than Chico
Households earn $33,481 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (4.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (222.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 56°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $728,800
Higher rents — median is $2,064/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Chico
Key Differences at a Glance
Chico
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 104.6 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Chico
Median Home Value
$301k less
$427,600 vs $728,800
Chico
Summer Heat
8.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 87.2°F
San Marcos
Median Income
$33,481
$99,413 vs $65,932/yr
San Marcos
Violent Crime
68% lower
222.4 vs 699.2 per 100k
San Marcos
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
4.2% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chico, CA | San Marcos, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $427,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $728,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,360⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,064⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,932 | $99,413 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 26.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% | 16.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | 31 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.3% | 41.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% ✓ Higher | 87.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Inspire School of Arts and Sciences District | San Marcos Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.1°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer | 87.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.3" | 13.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,790 ✓ Larger | 94,360 |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.1% | 61.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chico's cost of living index is 104.6 vs San Marcos's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Chico is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Marcos leads 13 of 23 categories. Chico wins 10 and San Marcos 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 San Marcos or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($427,600 vs $728,800 median home), income ($65,932 vs $99,413), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chico, CA and San Marcos, CA are about 525 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.