Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chico, CA
VS
Urban Honolulu, HI
🏆 Urban Honolulu leads 12 of 23 categories
Chico
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$65,932
Violent Crime Index
184⚠ High
Population
102,790
Urban Honolulu
Hawaii
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,772 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
49 ✓ Safer
Population
348,547 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chico, CA
Pros
Homes cost $378k less ($427,600 vs $805,500)
Rent averages $374/mo less ($1,360 vs $1,734)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Urban Honolulu
Cons
Violent crime (699.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Urban Honolulu by $16,840/yr
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 5.1%)
Urban Honolulu, HI
Pros
74% less violent crime than Chico
Households earn $16,840 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (185.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (5.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 56°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $805,500
Higher rents — median is $1,734/mo
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Chico
Key Differences at a Glance
Chico
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 104.6 vs 106.8 (100 = US avg)
Chico
Median Home Value
$378k less
$427,600 vs $805,500
Chico
Summer Heat
16.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 79.0°F
Urban Honolulu
Median Income
$16,840
$82,772 vs $65,932/yr
Urban Honolulu
Violent Crime
74% lower
185.2 vs 699.2 per 100k
Urban Honolulu
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
5.1% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chico, CA | Urban Honolulu, HI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 106.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $427,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $805,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,360⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,734⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,932 | $82,772 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 22.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 7.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | 85 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B+ (108) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.3% ✓ Higher | 39.2% |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% ✓ Higher | 90.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Inspire School of Arts and Sciences District | Hawaii Department of Education |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.1°F | 76.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer | 79.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.3" ✓ Drier | 31.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,790 | 348,547 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 42.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.1% | 48.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 21.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chico's cost of living index is 104.6 vs Urban Honolulu's 106.8 (US average = 100).
Chico is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Urban Honolulu leads 12 of 23 categories. Chico wins 11 and Urban Honolulu wins 12. 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 Urban Honolulu or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($427,600 vs $805,500 median home), income ($65,932 vs $82,772), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chico, CA and Urban Honolulu, HI are about 2,469 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.