Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chico, CA
VS
Surprise, AZ
🏆 Surprise leads 18 of 23 categories
Chico
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$65,932
Violent Crime Index
184⚠ High
Population
102,790
Surprise
Arizona
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,756 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
29 ✓ Safer
Population
145,591 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chico, CA
Pros
Rent averages $462/mo less ($1,360 vs $1,822)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
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 Surprise by $21,824/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $427,600
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 4.6%)
Surprise, AZ
Pros
84% less violent crime than Chico
Households earn $21,824 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (4.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $75k less ($352,600 vs $427,600)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 56°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,822/mo
Longer commutes — 30.5 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Surprise
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 101.2 vs 104.6 (100 = US avg)
Surprise
Median Income
$21,824
$87,756 vs $65,932/yr
Surprise
Violent Crime
84% lower
109.1 vs 699.2 per 100k
Surprise
Median Home Value
$75k less
$352,600 vs $427,600
Surprise
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.9% unemployment
Surprise
Summer Heat
9.4°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 95.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chico, CA | Surprise, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.6⚠ High | 101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $427,600⚠ High | $352,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,360⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,822⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,932 | $87,756 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.3% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Inspire School of Arts and Sciences District | Dysart Unified District (4243) |
| 🌤 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" | 9.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,790 | 145,591 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.1% | 78.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chico's cost of living index is 104.6 vs Surprise's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Surprise is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Surprise leads 18 of 23 categories. Chico wins 5 and Surprise wins 18. 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 Surprise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($427,600 vs $352,600 median home), income ($65,932 vs $87,756), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chico, CA and Surprise, AZ are about 667 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.