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What BestPlaces Users Say about Chico
Chico, California is a small city located in the northern part of the state, known for its outdoor recreation opportunities and local colleges. It has a population of around 100,000 and has been ranked as one of the best places to live in California. However, as with any city, there are varying opinions on what it's like to actually live there. Many people have shared their experiences and thoughts on Chico on the Best Places website, providing valuable insights for those considering a move to this particular place.
According to user reviews on Best Places, Chico has received mixed reviews from those who live there. One user, named "Julie," praises the city for its "charming downtown area and friendly community." She also mentions the abundance of outdoor activities available, stating that "there's always something fun to do outside." Another user, "Mark," talks about the affordability of living in Chico, saying that "housing prices are reasonable compared to other parts of California."
On the other hand, there are also some negative reviews about living in Chico. "Samantha" mentions issues with safety, stating that "there is a growing problem with drugs and homelessness in certain areas of the city." Another user, "Mike," expresses frustration with the lack of job opportunities and the high unemployment rate in Chico. He says, "finding a well-paying job here is not easy and many people end up commuting to other cities for work."
Overall, the user reviews on Best Places present a diverse range of opinions about living in Chico. While some praise the city for its charm, affordability, and outdoor activities, others mention concerns about safety and job opportunities. It's important for anyone considering a move to this particular place to thoroughly research and weigh both the positive and negative aspects before making a decision. As "Julie" wisely advises, "do your homework and visit the city before making a move."
based on 31 ReviewsGet to know Chico with the latest comments and reviews from people who live in or have visited Chico
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College Town - 3/7/2012
Every Fall a new crop of college students arrive and keep this small town thriving. Always fun and always
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Awesome Family Town! - 12/14/2011
I'm from the Central Coast and always considered Chico a party town. I was surprised when we moved here three years ago to find an awesome family town. Great parks, schools, and activities of all kinds. Chico is locally minded and very supportive of small business. There are extensive bike trails and there isn't a person in Chico who's too cool to ride a bike. Owning a bike in Chico is considered a nessecity. Lots for free fun! Lots of oppertunities to serve and contribute back to the community. Chico has some rough areas like all places do. The people are caring and friendly. In three years, I know more people round Chico than I did in my home town. Big town ammenities with a small town feel. Its been the full package for
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Great place for outdoor activities - 8/11/2011
Chico is a perfect place for any individual who likes to be outside. During the winter it snows in nearby towns (about 20 mins away) giving those who like to sky and snowboard time to do so. During the summer when it gets too hot to move a lot many people are found in the river floating or playing in the creek. The rest of the year however is great for going on hikes in Bidwell Park, fishing, camping, picnicking, bicycling, and many other outdoor
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Chico totally not the same - 6/27/2011
I just went to Chico a couple weeks ago and spent a couple days there. I went to college there in the late 80's and even though, that was quite some time ago...the place has changed and Im left really feeling very sad. Even though the parks, creeks and river havent changed. Bidwell park is still very nice. The campus has grown and has awkward modern buildings sticking out with sharp edges that really dont fit with the modest simple architecture of the original campus. The addition to Whitney Hall (where I once lived)..looks like a huge Star Trek space ship that overcame the beautiful green grass park strip that used to be beneath its floors. The people are no longer that friendly. I used to be so stunned how warm the locals were and how everyone every where smiled and said "hi". There are major subdivisions with new city dwellers taking up the open space, the creeksides and nice cute neighborhoods. It was really sad to see million dollar houses lining Butte Creek so you can hardly get
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Quality of Life in 2011 - 6/15/2011
In a nut shell, Chico is basically a mini-Sacramento. There may be some gangs as a couple of people reported, but every town has trouble-makers and most of the hubbub is around the University where all the Frat and Sorority houses are. We've lived in Chico over a year and a half and haven't seen any crime (we don't live near Chico State though). Cost of living is close to what it is in Sacramento, temperatures are basically the same as Sacramento, and the schools are reportedly about the same as in Sacramento. The average level of intelligence though, if you want to call it that, is higher in Chico than Sacramento. Over a third of the population in Chico is college educated. That's a huge percentage compared to an average town. Neighbors seem to be very nice where we are although you always get some who think they're the only ones who matter and they don't care how their behavior affects others -- you get that in ANY town on the planet though. So, pretty much mini-Sacramento
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Chico is no longer a well-kept secret! It's a town - 5/18/2010
Though I am hearing many gripes about the influx of bay area families moving to Chico for the affordable housing and the complaints of college students taking over our town, Chico really has so much to offer that it was only a matter of time before the surrounding areas found out about our lovely town.
Chico is what you would call a micro market as far as the economy goes. Much of our economy thrives because of the college students, meaning many businesses are seasonal (the in-school season). Some may not like that our downtown is crawling with students, but let's face it, our downtown is able to sustain its appealing look and feel because we have the students to help drive our economy.
When the sub-prime mortgage meltdown hit California our surrounding communities in the San Francisco bay area and Sacramento were hit much harder than our little town of Chico. We were able to sustain more of our home values than most other communities making the perks that
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Voting? - 11/4/2009
11/4/2009
I am 70, new to Chico; new to CA. I love it here and am from back East, but Chico is very like the town where I grew up. It is a lovely quiet easy place and a great place to find yourself when you have retired. I have one question and I'm not sure it applies, but did Californians go to the polls yesterday. Do we get ballots and/or notification for all voting times and if this is not the place to ask where can I find out? Thanks for listening,
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saddened - 7/24/2009
It breaks my heart to read the negative comments about Chico. I lived in Chico from 1997 - 2000 and got my bachelor's and teaching credential there. I loved every minute of my college experience in Chico and go back to visit often. I realize that it has changed which is unfortunate. Chico has so much to offer the outdoorsy kind of people. I remember going to the Bear Hole or just walking the One Mile Park. I don't remember a lot of crime, but I do remember the cops shutting down the downtown area on Halloween because it just got too out of control. Chico's Halloween was known all over CA and people that would usually come to visit were asked not to by the news, cops, and newspapers.
I do agree that there is a lot of farming in the area because it's in the country. I had headaches quite often from the crop burning. I worked at an elementary school as an aide while in college and I remember that it would have been hard for me to get a teaching position because no one ever
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