Population 115,835 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Chico
Household size in Chico
| Period | Chico | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.49 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.52 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.58 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.37 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.12 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Chico is a place of small households, averaging 2.37 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.49, a much bigger shift than nationally. Of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people, only 65 have smaller households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Chico
| Period | Chico | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 34.2 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 34.4 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 35.3 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 35.8 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.6 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
Chico is young: half of its residents are under 35.8, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young adults, many of them living alone or as couples. The median age has climbed from 34.2 in 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Chico
| Period | Chico | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.0% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.5% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.5% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.6% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.5 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head nearly one in eight households in Chico (11.6%), the same as the national share. The single-parent share has edged up 0.5 points since 2006–10, even as the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Chico
Renters in Chico
| Period | Chico | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 49.0% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 50.9% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 50.4% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 52.5% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.5 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in Chico: 52.5% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. Among homeowners, 41.4% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Rentals cluster in the south; owners are most common in the northeast. The renter share has risen 3.5 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Chico
| Period | Chico | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.6% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.6% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.6% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.5% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.1 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Chico is close to the national rate: 9.5% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. The rate is higher than in California overall (7.3%). Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged down 1.1 points, as it has nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Chico
| Period | Chico | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1978 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1979 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1980 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1983 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +4 | +6 |
The typical home in Chico was built around 1983, about the same vintage as the country's housing overall (1980). Homes here are newer than in California as a whole, where the median home dates to 1976. The median year built has moved up from 1978 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northeast, the oldest in the center.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Chico
| Period | Chico | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $976 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,006 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,228 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,597 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$621 | +$931 | +$606 |
The median renter in Chico pays $1,597 a month for rent and utilities, close to the national median of $1,571. Rents here are lower than in California as a whole ($2,229). Rents are up $621 a month from 2006–10, a 64% jump, roughly in step with the nation. The typical renter here spends 35.9% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Chico
Bachelor's degrees in Chico
| Period | Chico | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.5% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 34.3% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 37.6% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 42.2% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.8 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are more common in Chico than nationally: 42.2% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 8.8 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Chico
| Period | Chico | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 89.2% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.6% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.9% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.8% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.5 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Chico is above the national rate: 93.8% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 4.5 points, mirroring the country.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Chico
| Period | Chico | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.5% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.9% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.7% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.9% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.6 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been harder to find in Chico than nationally: unemployment was 6.9%, against 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 3.6 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Chico compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chico | 2.37 | 35.8 | 11.6% | 52.5% | 9.5% | 1983 | $1,597 | 42.2% | 93.8% | 6.9% |
| Richardson Springs | 3.20 | 35.3 | 2.8% | 0.6% | 9.0% | 1995 | $1,764 | 70.4% | 100.0% | 7.7% |
| Rotavele | 3.86 | 34.9 | 12.0% | 20.1% | 11.7% | 1984 | $1,584 | 18.9% | 81.7% | 0.8% |
| Durham | 2.55 | 48.5 | 10.7% | 32.0% | 7.6% | 1978 | $1,130 | 38.6% | 96.3% | 10.8% |
| Hamilton City | 3.34 | 30.4 | 13.0% | 40.5% | 4.2% | 1977 | $961 | 10.6% | 70.3% | 5.0% |
| Cohasset | 3.20 | 34.5 | 4.1% | 8.7% | 8.7% | 1996 | $1,765 | 64.8% | 98.8% | 7.0% |
| Ordbend | 2.93 | 41.5 | 6.8% | 30.8% | 14.9% | 1975 | $1,231 | 18.1% | 84.9% | 8.9% |
| Paradise | 2.24 | 52.3 | 9.0% | 22.2% | 10.1% | 1993 | $1,274 | 31.6% | 93.0% | 5.8% |
| Butte Valley | 2.67 | 45.0 | 2.6% | 10.4% | 7.8% | 1992 | $1,336 | 38.7% | 87.5% | 5.3% |
| Nimshew | 2.55 | 50.5 | 8.3% | 9.2% | 11.5% | 1983 | $1,601 | 19.4% | 88.0% | 11.6% |
| Mills Orchard | 3.08 | 39.0 | 8.4% | 20.1% | 12.4% | 1979 | $1,475 | 22.0% | 87.6% | 13.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Salt Lake City, UT · San Juan, PR · Sacramento, CA · Salinas, CA · Salem, OR · Roswell, GA · Round Rock, TX · Santa Clarita, CA · Saginaw, MI · Hialeah, FL
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Chico. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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