2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Chico, CA vs Ames, IA

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Highlights
Are people in Ames older or younger than people in Chico?
- The Median Age in Ames is 6.9 years younger than in Chico.

Are housing costs cheaper in Ames or Chico?
- Ames housing costs are 45.7% less expensive than Chico housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Ames or Chico?
- The average commute for residents of Ames is 0.1 minutes shorter than it is for residents of Chico.

Things to do in Chico?
Chico, California is an amazing city located in Northern California. It's known for its beautiful parklands, vibrant culture, and lively downtown area. Visitors can take advantage of outdoor activities like hiking at Bidwell Park or biking along the Sacramento River Trail to explore the local area. Culture buffs can visit places like the National Yo-Yo Museum or the Gateway Science Museum to gain insight into local culture. After exploring, sample delicious food from restaurants like Burgers & Brew or The Banshee Restaurant and Bar. With so much to offer, Chico is a great place to visit for an unforgettable experience!

Things to do in Ames?
Ames, Iowa is a lively city located in the heart of central Iowa. This bustling city offers plenty for visitors to explore such as the picturesque Reiman Gardens or the historic Octagon Center for the Arts. Residents here also enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities at Hills Memorial Park or Brookside Park. With its excellent school systems, thriving businesses, and numerous recreational opportunities, it's no wonder why so many people choose to make Ames their home.

 Chico, CAAmes, IAUnited States
 Population  Unlock65,522329,725,481
 Median Income$60,507  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock23.438.4
 Avg. Home Price$440,000  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock2.7%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time16.57  Unlock26.38
Reviews for Chico    31 Reviews

Chico is imperfect like most places, but it's still good. Any and all of it's issues proceed from it's main fault of growing increasingly liberal, which is to be  More

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Uuwuu · 
Over 3 years ago

Chico's decent. I've been living here for ~5 years now. Eveen though my brother loves Chico and would like to stay, I would like to leave. I have no issues with crime or  More

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I was born in Oroville and I grew up in Oroville and Biggs. I have heard all my life about crime in chico. Well I have lived in Chico near Chapman for almost 10 years  More

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Reviews for Ames    12 Reviews

Over 13 years ago

Hello, I am in San Jose Ca, but am seriously thinking of moving somewhere much slower for a better quality of living. I've just turned 59, so I'm kinda preparing for  More

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Over 13 years ago

Like every other city Ames has both good and bad points. The good points are: low cost of living, very friendly people, lots of outdoor activities and quite a few events  More

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Ames enjoys a high quality of life at a very affordable cost, substantially lower than many other communities. The presence of Iowa State University, a large (28,000  More

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