Best Places to Live in Chico Metro Area, California

Chico, CA Metropolitan Area: From stunning mountain ranges to pristine riversides–the Chico metropolitan area offers breathtaking scenery as well as plentiful attractions for any type of traveler. Here you can find numerous activities such as glamping amongst lush nature trails following Big Chico Creek’s path through Bidwell Park; visiting local stores specializing in vintage finds or artisanal crafts; attending live performances by award-winning bands at popular music venues like The Senator Theatre or café’s featuring poets and spoken word artists—just to name a few. Whether discovering all that the area has to offer or just enjoying some rest and relaxation—Chico does not disappoint. Small town/College town - Northern California, northeastern portion of the Central Valley at the foot of the Sierra range..

State: California
County: Butte
Metro Area: Chico Metro Area
City: Chico, Oroville, 29 total

Zip Codes: 95926, 95928, 95973, 95966, 95969, 95965, 95954, 95948, 95938, 95917, 18 total
Cost of Living: 10.8% higher
Time zone: Pacific Standard Time (PST)
Elevation: 230 ft above sea level

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Chico, Ca Housing Market

Least Expensive Homes	Homes Over 2,000 Sq. Ft.
Most Expensive Homes	Homes less than 10 yrs old
All Single Family Homes

Pros
Some college-town amenities
Mild winters
Nearby mountains

Cons
Isolation
High unemployment
Low ethnic diversity

What Bert Has To Say About Chico Metro Area

Chico is home to a major campus of the California State University and a variety of agricultural activities. Nearby mountains, Lassen Volcanic National Park, and Lake Almanor offer outdoor recreation. “Chico State” as the school is known locally brings a few college amenities to the area but it falls short of description as a classic college town. While summers can be unbearably hot and dry, winters are pleasant and many outdoor activities can be pursued throughout the year.

Highlights

ECONOMY

The unemployment rate in Chico Metro Area is 7.5% (U.S. avg. is 6.0%). Recent job growth is Positive. Chico Metro Area jobs have increased by 2.1%. More Economy

COST OF LIVING

Compared to the rest of the country, Chico Metro Area's cost of living is 10.8% higher than the U.S. average. More Cost of Living or Compare Chico Metro Area's Cost of Living

WEATHER & CLIMATE

May, October and September are the most pleasant months in the Chico metro area, while January and December are the least comfortable months. Today's Weather | Climate Averages

VOTING

In the last Presidential election, the Chico metro area flipped slightly Democratic, 49.5% to 47.6%. More Voting Stats

POPULATION

Chico Metro Area's population is 217,884 people. Since 2020, it has had a population growth of 3.0%. Learn More...

TRANSPORTATION

Average Commute time is 20.1 minutes. The National Average is 26.4 minutes. Learn More...

REAL ESTATE

The median home cost in Chico Metro Area is Real Estate: $381,600. Home appreciation the last 10 years has been 4.7%.

SCHOOLS

Chico Metro Area public schools spend $11,027 per student. The average school expenditure in the U.S. is $12,383. There are about 22 students per teacher in Chico Metro Area. More Education

Best Places to Live in Chico Rankings

#20	Best Green Cities
#43	America's Best and Worst Cities for Crime (Mid-Size Metro Areas)
#281	2005 Best Places to Live

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Housing Market in Chico

It's a good time to buy in Chico. Home Appreciation is up 4.7% in the last 12 months.
The median home price in Chico is $381,600.

Real Estate: See Homes

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Reviews for Chico 1 Reviews

Climate error - 7/20/2018
Chico Ca does not come close to 41 inches of rain in a year. I have lived here for 51 years. 23 inches is considered the average but in the last 20 years we have... Read More

Russ | Chico, CA | Reply | No Replies

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COMPARE COST OF LIVING

Compare Chico Metro Area, California to any other place in the USA.

MAPS OF CHICO METRO AREA, CALIFORNIA

ZIP CODES IN CHICO METRO AREA, CALIFORNIA

95926, 95928, 95973, 95966, 95969, 95965, 95954, 95948, 95938, 95917, 18 total

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United States / California / Chico Metro Area / Counties / Cities / Zip Codes