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Economy, jobs and prices in Chico, California: official figures

The median household income in Chico was $66,977 a year in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey (in 2024 dollars), 244th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US median was $80,734 and the California median $99,122.

Median household income
$66,977
2020-2024
Unemployment rate (ACS)
6.8%
2020-2024
Mean travel time to work
17.8 min
2020-2024
Median gross rent (monthly)
$1,488
2020-2024
Median home value (owner-occupied)
$468,100
2020-2024
Homes occupied by their owners
43.4%
2020-2024
Households with a broadband subscription
93.6%
2020-2024

What is the per capita income in Chico?

Income per resident (per capita income) in Chico averaged $38,830 a year in 2020-2024, 362nd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $44,673; California: $49,513).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How unequal are incomes in Chico?

Chico's Gini index of household income inequality was 0.483 in 2020-2024 (0 means equal incomes, 1 maximum inequality), 172nd most unequal of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US figure was 0.483.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the unemployment rate in Chico, California?

6.8% of the civilian labor force in Chico was unemployed on average over 2020-2024 (3,828 people), 177th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US rate in the same survey was 5.2% and California's 6.6%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of people in Chico are working?

66.2% of Chico's 85,612 residents aged 16 and over were in the labor force (working or looking for work) in 2020-2024, 375th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 63.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Chico have jobs?

52,812 residents of Chico held civilian jobs, 61.7% of those aged 16 and over (US: 59.7%), and 41 served in the armed forces.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What are the main industries in Chico?

The largest industry group for working residents of Chico was education, health care and social assistance (29.8% of employed residents), followed by arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services (14.5%) and retail trade (11.8%), 2020-2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Chico work in manufacturing?

Manufacturing employed 4.1% of working residents of Chico, 39th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 9.9%); professional, scientific and management services employed 10.7% (US: 12.6%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How long is the commute in Chico, California?

Commuters in Chico took 17.8 minutes on average to get to work in 2020-2024, 64th shortest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 26.4 minutes); 4.5% travelled an hour or more and 55.6% less than 15 minutes.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How do people in Chico get to work?

13.5% of workers living in Chico worked from home in 2020-2024, 405th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 15.1%). 68.6% drove to work alone, 9.9% carpooled, 0.9% used public transport and 3.7% walked.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the average rent in Chico, California?

The median gross rent (rent plus utilities) in Chico was $1,488 a month in 2020-2024, 362nd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $1,413; California: $2,036).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does a house cost in Chico?

Owner-occupied homes in Chico had a median value of $468,100 in 2020-2024 as estimated by their owners, 296th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $332,700; California: $734,700).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How affordable are homes in Chico?

The median home value in Chico was 7.0 times the median household income, 127th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 4.1 times).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of people in Chico, California own their home?

43.4% of the 42,943 occupied homes in Chico were lived in by their owners in 2020-2024 and 24,304 were rented, 97th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more for home ownership (US: 65.2%; California: 55.9%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of homes in Chico have broadband?

93.6% of households in Chico had a broadband internet subscription of some type in 2020-2024, 321st highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 91.0%; California: 93.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many households in Chico have no internet?

4.0% of households in Chico (1,718) had no internet access at home in 2020-2024, 317th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.5%); 10.9% relied on a cellular data plan alone (US: 11.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Chico compares with other cities in the United States

Median household income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)

Chico ranks 580 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian household income (2024 dollars)
577Delano$67,010
578Fargo$66,998
579Melbourne$66,991
580Chico$66,977
581Warner Robins$66,970
582Sanford$66,891
583Louisville/Jefferson County metro government$66,849
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Per capita income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)

Chico ranks 462 of 823, highest first.

RankCityPer capita income (2024 dollars)
459Boynton Beach$38,859
460West Jordan$38,854
461Pittsburg$38,833
462Chico$38,830
463Taunton$38,819
464Norman$38,809
465Newport News$38,773
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Gini index of household income inequality (2020-2024)

Chico ranks 172 of 823, highest first.

RankCityGini index of household income inequality
169Union City0.483
170Savannah0.483
171Bozeman0.483
172Chico0.483
173Oak Park0.483
174Harrisburg0.483
175Ames0.482
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Unemployment rate (share of civilian labor force) (2020-2024)

Chico ranks 177 of 823, highest first.

RankCityUnemployment rate (share of civilian labor force)
174Springfield6.8%
175Mishawaka6.8%
176Murrieta6.8%
177Chico6.8%
178Citrus Heights6.7%
179Santa Monica6.7%
180Lake Charles6.6%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Labor force participation rate (16 and over) (2020-2024)

Chico ranks 375 of 823, highest first.

RankCityLabor force participation rate (16 and over)
372Weston66.2%
373Coconut Creek66.2%
374Ames66.2%
375Chico66.2%
376Bellingham66.2%
377Ontario66.2%
378Lafayette66.2%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Mean travel time to work (minutes) (2020-2024)

Chico ranks 760 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMean travel time to work (minutes)
757Peoria17.9
758Harlingen17.9
759Council Bluffs17.9
760Chico17.8
761Bowling Green17.8
762Yakima17.8
763Decatur17.7
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Workers who worked from home (2020-2024)

Chico ranks 419 of 823, highest first.

RankCityWorkers who worked from home
416Athens13.5%
417Jeffersonville13.5%
418San Antonio13.5%
419Chico13.5%
420Lake Elsinore13.5%
421Lebanon13.4%
422Hialeah13.4%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Workers commuting by public transportation (2020-2024)

Chico ranks 476 of 823, highest first.

RankCityWorkers commuting by public transportation
473Redlands0.9%
474Garland0.9%
475El Paso0.9%
476Chico0.9%
477Kenosha0.9%
478Rowlett0.9%
479Vista0.9%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Employed residents working in manufacturing (2020-2024)

Chico ranks 785 of 823, highest first.

RankCityEmployed residents working in manufacturing
782Daytona Beach4.1%
783Chapel Hill4.1%
784Galveston4.1%
785Chico4.1%
786Yonkers4.1%
787Yucaipa4.0%
788Gainesville3.9%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Employed residents in education, health care and social assistance (2020-2024)

Chico ranks 69 of 823, highest first.

RankCityEmployed residents in education, health care and social assistance
66Oak Park30.2%
67Terre Haute30.1%
68Tyler29.9%
69Chico29.8%
70Waterbury29.7%
71Erie29.7%
72Flagstaff29.6%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median gross rent per month (2020-2024)

Chico ranks 462 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian gross rent per month
459Visalia$1,490
460Anchorage$1,489
461New Haven$1,488
462Chico$1,488
463Worcester$1,487
464Taylorsville$1,482
465Murfreesboro$1,481
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median value of owner-occupied homes (2020-2024)

Chico ranks 296 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian value of owner-occupied homes
293Goodyear$471,300
294Palmdale$471,000
295Aurora$469,100
296Chico$468,100
297Provo$467,200
298Plano$465,900
299West New York$465,600
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median home value as a multiple of median household income (2020-2024)

Chico ranks 124 of 820, highest first.

RankCityMedian home value as a multiple of median household income
121Milpitas7.0x
122Burien7.0x
123Palm Desert7.0x
124Chico7.0x
125Upland7.0x
126Fall River7.0x
127Lakewood6.9x
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Occupied homes lived in by their owners (2020-2024)

Chico ranks 727 of 823, highest first.

RankCityOccupied homes lived in by their owners
724Davis43.5%
725Manhattan43.5%
726Austin43.4%
727Chico43.4%
728Burbank43.3%
729Lowell43.2%
730Redmond43.2%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Households with a broadband subscription (2020-2024)

Chico ranks 321 of 823, highest first.

RankCityHouseholds with a broadband subscription
318DeSoto93.7%
319Tinley Park93.7%
320Charlotte93.6%
321Chico93.6%
322Hawthorne93.6%
323Lake Elsinore93.6%
324Tampa93.6%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Households with no internet access (2020-2024)

Chico ranks 507 of 823, highest first.

RankCityHouseholds with no internet access
504Westminster4.0%
505Pasco4.0%
506Bend4.0%
507Chico4.0%
508Escondido4.0%
509Durham4.0%
510Sioux Falls4.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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