Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chico, CA
VS
Yuma, AZ
🏆 Yuma leads 15 of 23 categories
Chico
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$65,932 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
184⚠ High
Population
102,790 ✓ Larger
Yuma
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,312
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,314
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
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (6.9%)
Households earn $6,620 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 95°F vs 107°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
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Yuma
Yuma, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $241k less ($186,500 vs $427,600)
39% less violent crime than Chico
Rent averages $332/mo less ($1,028 vs $1,360)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Chico
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 56°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Median income trails Chico by $6,620/yr
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 6.9%)
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Chico
Median Income
$6,620
$65,932 vs $59,312/yr
Chico
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
6.9% vs 7.7% unemployment
Yuma
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 104.6 (100 = US avg)
Yuma
Violent Crime
39% lower
423.6 vs 699.2 per 100k
Yuma
Median Home Value
$241k less
$186,500 vs $427,600
Yuma
Summer Heat
11.5°F warmer
July avg high 106.7°F vs 95.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chico, CA | Yuma, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.6⚠ High | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $427,600⚠ High | $186,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,360⚠ High | $1,028 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,932 ✓ Higher | $59,312 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min | 17.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | C- (70) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.3% ✓ Higher | 20.3% |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Inspire School of Arts and Sciences District | Yuma Elementary District (4499) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.1°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F | 106.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.3" | 3.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,790 ✓ Larger | 96,314 |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 32.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.1% | 64.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chico's cost of living index is 104.6 vs Yuma's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Yuma is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Yuma leads 15 of 23 categories. Chico wins 8 and Yuma wins 15. 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 Yuma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($427,600 vs $186,500 median home), income ($65,932 vs $59,312), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chico, CA and Yuma, AZ are about 645 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.