CensusEasy
CITY

Chico

California · 105,081 residents (2025 est.) · 34.521 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Chico metro area
Compare
The short version

Chico has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $66,977. The city has grown rapidly, with population up 70% since 2000. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $468,100. At a median age of 31.1, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. The poverty rate of 22.7% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 32% less than the California median.

At a glance
Lower income
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
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
102,188
+70%since 2000
from 59,954 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
2,960 / sq mi
+22%since 2009
from 2,426 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
31.1
+20%since 2000
from 25.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:105,081 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
34K53K72K91K110K1990201020202024Chico
2024102K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54.4%(4,544)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.7%(5,788)
US avg: 6%
10 to 145.2%(5,275)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 197.7%(7,849)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 2417.2%(17,559)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3415%(15,305)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4412.1%(12,372)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5410%(10,246)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 648.5%(8,718)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 748.8%(8,954)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 843.9%(3,966)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.6%(1,612)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$66,977
+25%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,359 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$38,830
+129%since 2000
from $16,970 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
45.4%
+22.2 ptssince 2009
from 23.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
22.7%
−3.9 ptssince 2000
from 26.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.483
+6%since 2010
from 0.457 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information11.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services5.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Wholesale trade4.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Retail trade4.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance3.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Public administration3.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing2.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Professional, scientific, technical2.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, food2.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.9%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services1.1%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$468,100
+85%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $138,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,488
+38%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $594 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
43.4%
+3.0 ptssince 2000
from 40.4% in 2000
56.6% rent
Vacancy rate
7.9%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 8.6% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
22.7%
−12.6 ptssince 2009
from 35.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
58.8%
−4.4 ptssince 2009
from 63.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
7.0
−17%since 2009
from 8.4 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
55
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Chico on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic77.2%(46,258)
Black2%(1,174)
Hispanic / Latino12.3%(7,351)
Asian4.1%(2,488)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic64.6%(66,064)
Black2.2%(2,278)
Hispanic / Latino20.5%(20,988)
Asian5.2%(5,323)
Other7.4%(7,535)
Diversity Score
66
+32%since 2009
from 50 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican17.1%(17,459)
Puerto Rican0.5%(475)
Salvadoran0.3%(344)
Spaniard0.3%(300)
Peruvian0.2%(225)
Nicaraguan0.2%(206)
Cuban0.2%(173)
Guatemalan0.2%(168)
Colombian0.1%(132)
Chilean0.1%(101)
+ 7 more hispanic origin groups with data
Asian origin
Hmong1.3%(1,372)
Chinese0.9%(885)
Filipino0.7%(728)
Vietnamese0.6%(612)
Asian Indian0.5%(486)
Korean0.3%(259)
Japanese0.2%(186)
Taiwanese0.2%(173)
Indonesian0.1%(151)
Mien0.1%(93)
Laotian0.1%(88)
Pakistani0.1%(82)
+ 3 more asian origin groups with data
Cambodian0.1%(62)
Thai0%(45)
Pacific Islander origin
Tongan0.2%(244)
Samoan0.1%(123)
Fijian0%(41)
Chamorro0%(11)
Ancestry
German14%(14,297)
English12.4%(12,676)
Irish11.5%(11,750)
Italian6.7%(6,831)
American3.6%(3,671)
Scottish3.1%(3,145)
French2.6%(2,613)
Portuguese2.1%(2,189)
Norwegian1.9%(1,901)
Swedish1.3%(1,312)
Dutch1%(1,003)
Polish1%(997)
+ 44 more ancestry groups with data
Russian0.9%(887)
Scotch-Irish0.8%(776)
Welsh0.7%(713)
Danish0.7%(697)
British0.6%(655)
Arab0.6%(602)
Czech0.6%(592)
Greek0.5%(480)
Finnish0.4%(406)
Swiss0.3%(333)
Hungarian0.3%(316)
Canadian0.3%(289)
Croatian0.2%(252)
Ukrainian0.2%(214)
Romanian0.2%(180)
Nigerian0.2%(180)
Austrian0.2%(177)
Armenian0.2%(167)
Iranian0.1%(140)
Lebanese0.1%(132)
Turkish0.1%(96)
Jordanian0.1%(55)
Slovak0.1%(55)
Belgian0%(47)
Latvian0%(36)
Israeli0%(32)
Iraqi0%(26)
Slovene0%(25)
Jamaican0%(23)
Brazilian0%(17)
Serbian0%(17)
Egyptian0%(12)
Syrian0%(8)
Haitian0%(1)
RANKED:Largest Mexican population · Largest German population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest Italian population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
42.2%
+8.6 ptssince 2000
from 33.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
93.5%
+6.2 ptssince 2000
from 87.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
15.0%
+4.4 ptssince 2000
from 10.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
17.8 min
+48%since 2000
from 12.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
68.6%
−3.9 ptssince 2009
from 72.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.9%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 9.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.9%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
13.5%
+9.4 ptssince 2009
from 4.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.7%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 5.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
1.9%
−3.6 ptssince 2009
from 5.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
7.1%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 8.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.8%
−5.4 ptssince 2011
from 12.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
66.2%
+2.4 ptssince 2011
from 63.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
17.6%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 16.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
43.3%
−22.0 ptssince 2009
from 65.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.2%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.0% in 2009
Female
50.8%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 51.0% in 2009
Foreign born
8.5%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 8.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.2%
−43.9 ptssince 2009
from 48.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
14.6%
+2.9 ptssince 2012
from 11.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.2%
−76.3 ptssince 2013
from 83.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
93.6%
+7.9 ptssince 2017
from 85.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
82.5%
−2.4 ptssince 2016
from 85.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
11.6%
+2.1 ptssince 2016
from 9.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married52.6%(22,039)
Married37%(15,507)
Widowed1.3%(526)
Divorced9.2%(3,846)
Women 15+
Never married46.1%(20,598)
Married34.6%(15,454)
Widowed7.3%(3,248)
Divorced12%(5,363)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Chico

Davenport
Pop 100,358
Springfield
Pop 112,989
Clearwater
Pop 114,364
Pompano Beach
Pop 117,211
Places similar to Chico
Head to head

Compare Chico to nearby cities

CHICO VS
Paradise
Income$67,687+1%
Home value$416,000−11%
Population10,023−90%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHICO VS
Orland
Income$64,945−3%
Home value$342,200−27%
Population8,381−92%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHICO VS
Corning
Income$56,627−15%
Home value$313,100−33%
Population8,260−92%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHICO VS
Oroville
Income$52,270−22%
Home value$311,600−33%
Population20,451−81%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Chico, California?

Chico, California has about 102,188 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Chico, California?

The typical household in Chico, California earns about $66,977 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Chico, California expensive?

In Chico, California, the median home is worth about $468,100, and the typical rent is about $1,488 a month.

How educated are people in Chico, California?

About 42.2% of adults age 25 and over in Chico, California hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Chico, California?

About 22.7% of people in Chico, California live below the federal poverty line.

Has Chico, California grown since 1990?

Yes, Chico, California has grown since 1990. The population has added about 62,109 residents, a change of about 155 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
California
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare Chico with another place

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →