PlainRelocate

Relocation profile · Federal data

Chico, CA

LiveAbility 30.8/100 places Chico #363 of 387 (bottom third of scored metros).

101.2
Cost index (US=100)
$1,625
2BR rent / mo
$69,223
Median salary
30.8
LiveAbility Score

The verdict

As of June 2026, Chico ranks #363 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (30.8/100), with its strongest marks in job market and climate.

#363
of 387 US metros · Well below median
39,431,263
metro-area population
477
violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
10,006
schools in the state (NCES)

Weakest dimension: schools (8/100). Weigh every dimension against your own priorities, use the City Finder to re-rank by what matters to you.

According to PlainRelocate's LiveAbility composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, and FEMA inputs), Chico ranks #363 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 101.2 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,625/mo, median salary $69,223; LiveAbility Score 30.8/100, strongest in job market and climate.

Signature: LiveAbility 30.8/100 places Chico #363 of 387 (bottom third of scored metros).

Purchasing power tightens: BEA RPP 101.2 lands in the dearer third of scored metros (cuts at 91.5 / 97.0). Median 2BR rent $1,625/mo.

LiveAbility 30.8/100 puts Chico in the bottom third (#363 of 387).

BLS OEWS total employment in the Chico area is 70,590.

Chico vs all US metros by LiveAbility Score

Where this metro's LiveAbility Score falls among every scored US metro (composite placement, not a desirability verdict)

31 Top 94% higher than 6% of 387 US metros

Metros banded by LiveAbility Score (0–100)

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source PlainRelocate LiveAbility Score · June 2026

Chico housing and rent

HUD Fair Market Rents for the Chico MSA; housing RPP 91.9 (100 = national average); 2BR $1,625/mo.

Studio
$1,155
/month
1 Bedroom
$1,270
/month
2 Bedroom
$1,625
/month
3 Bedroom
$2,260
/month
4 Bedroom
$2,726
/month

Chico wages and employment

Chico posts 70,590 total employment with median salary $69,223 against a dearer-than-average RPP.

Median Salary
$69,223
Mean Salary
$73,244
Total Employment
70,590

Top Occupations by Employment

Occupation Median Salary
Home Health and Personal Care Aides $34,320
Fast Food and Counter Workers $38,210
Registered Nurses $127,360
Cashiers $35,210
Retail Salespersons $36,680

Schools & Education

State-level education data for the Chico area from NCES.

Schools
10,006
Enrollment
5,787,663
Student:Teacher
21.5:1
Title I %
0%

Childcare Costs

State-average childcare costs for the Chico area (DOL data).

Infant (Center)
$17,920
per year
Toddler (Center)
$12,300
per year
Preschool (Center)
$11,385
per year

Life Score Breakdown

Chico's composite Life Score is 42.2/100 (F), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.

Cost
16/100
Bottom decile
Wages
79/100
Strong
Rent
24/100
Weak
Crime
13/100
Bottom decile
Schools
92/100
Elite
Childcare
9/100
Bottom decile
Environment
74/100
Strong

LiveAbility Score

View full rankings →

Chico ranks #363 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 30.8/100 - a composite of 8 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data. Customize the weights to match your priorities →

Strongest dimension: Job market (79/100)

Chico - dimension scores

Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)

score

What this shows Chico's strongest dimensions are job market and climate; its weakest among scored dims is schools at 8/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%.

Source BEA · BLS · HUD · FBI · NCES · EPA · NOAA · FEMA As of Federal data, latest available vintage

Compare Chico to

Jacksonville Jacksonville Janesville-Beloit Jefferson City Johnson City Johnstown

Metros near Chico on cost, LiveAbility, or wages

Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Chico on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.

Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)

Similar LiveAbility score

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026

Chico cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Chico wages and LiveAbility inputs follow BLS OEWS plus the federal sources listed in methodology. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Scores are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation. How this data is sourced.

Verify with BEA → · Verify with BLS → · Verify with HUD → · Verify with NOAA → · Verify with FEMA → · Verify with Census →

Thinking about Chico?

Chico runs a $69,223 median salary at a 101.2 cost index, ranking #363 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.

  • See exactly what Chico's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
  • Put Chico head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Chico
  • Abilene is the closest related metro in this corpus -- see how it stacks up. Abilene profile
  • A cheaper cost index and a higher LiveAbility score don't always point the same direction -- here's how to weigh the trade-off. Cost vs quality guide

Cost, salary and score figures are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation.