Chico is home to 102,188 people in California. Since 2000 the city has risen by half, up 42,234 people. The median age is 31.1, younger than the US median of 38.9. Owners hold 43% of the housing stock. That trails the California median by roughly 32%. 22.7% of locals live below the federal poverty line.
At a glance
Lower income
median household income $66,977, below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 31.1
US median: 38.9
More educated
42% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 85%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about Chico
What changed most since 1990
Population40,079 → 102,188(+155%)US over the same years: +35%
Homes owned by their occupants33.1% → 43.4%(+10.3 pts)US over the same years: +0.9 pts
Poverty rate32.0% → 22.7%(−9.3 pts)US over the same years: −0.8 pts
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans
Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)24.9%(870)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)22.5%(785)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era36.2%(1,262)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War7.3%(256)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II1.6%(57)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 3,487 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time
Chico, decade by decade
Chico population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
40,079
$45,613
$252,967
31.8%
33.8
2000
59,954
$53,482
$252,481
33.6%
48.2
2010
86,187
$60,183
$448,834
34.2%
53.5
2020
101,475
$69,519
$423,365
38.5%
65.8
2024
102,188
$66,977
$468,100
42.2%
66.4
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
