Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chico, CA
VS
Spokane Valley, WA
🏆 Spokane Valley leads 14 of 23 categories
Chico
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$65,932
Violent Crime Index
184⚠ High
Population
102,790
Spokane Valley
Washington
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,483 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
103,761 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chico, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 41.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 38°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $427,600
Violent crime (699.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,360/mo
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 5.8%)
Spokane Valley, WA
Pros
65% less violent crime than Chico
Homes cost $120k less ($307,700 vs $427,600)
Violent crime is well below the national average (242.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.8%)
Rent averages $185/mo less ($1,175 vs $1,360)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 95°F
Cons
Property crime (3515.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Chico
Summer Heat
8.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 87.1°F
Spokane Valley
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 101.0 vs 104.6 (100 = US avg)
Spokane Valley
Median Income
$551
$66,483 vs $65,932/yr
Spokane Valley
Violent Crime
65% lower
242.1 vs 699.2 per 100k
Spokane Valley
Median Home Value
$120k less
$307,700 vs $427,600
Spokane Valley
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chico, CA | Spokane Valley, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.6⚠ High | 101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $427,600⚠ High | $307,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,360⚠ High | $1,175 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,932 | $66,483 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 20.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.3% ✓ Higher | 25.3% |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Inspire School of Arts and Sciences District | East Valley School District (Spokane) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.1°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer | 87.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.3" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,790 | 103,761 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.1% | 57.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 21.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chico's cost of living index is 104.6 vs Spokane Valley's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Spokane Valley is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Spokane Valley leads 14 of 23 categories. Chico wins 9 and Spokane Valley wins 14. 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 Spokane Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($427,600 vs $307,700 median home), income ($65,932 vs $66,483), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chico, CA and Spokane Valley, WA are about 592 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.