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METRO AREA

Chico Metro

Chico, CA · 1 counties · 209,211 residents (2025 est.) · 1,636.49 sq mi
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The short version

Chico has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $67,928. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than tripled since 2000, reaching $424,700.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 36.2
US median: 38.9
Average education
32% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 101%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
207,929
+2%since 2000
from 203,171 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
127 / sq mi
+2%since 2000
from 124 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
36.2
+1%since 2000
from 35.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:209,211 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
178K191K205K218K232K1990201020202024Chico
2024208K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$67,928
+17%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $31,924 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$38,305
+119%since 2000
from $17,517 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
46.2%
+21.1 ptssince 2009
from 25.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
19.2%
−0.5 ptssince 2000
from 19.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.483
+8%since 2010
from 0.449 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information11.5%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade6.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Retail trade5.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services5.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance3.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.1%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction3.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Public administration2.8%
US avg: 4.8%
Professional, scientific, technical2.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing2.2%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services1.3%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$424,700
+101%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $116,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,414
+38%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $563 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
57.3%
−3.5 ptssince 2000
from 60.7% in 2000
42.7% rent
Vacancy rate
10.2%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 10.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
27.2%
−8.2 ptssince 2009
from 35.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
55.7%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 57.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
6.3
+72%since 2000
from 3.6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
61
RELATED:See current rent listings in Chico on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic80%(162,564)
Black1.3%(2,699)
Hispanic / Latino10.5%(21,339)
Asian3.3%(6,676)
Other0%
Diversity Score34.9%(70,854)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic65.1%(135,400)
Black1.7%(3,628)
Hispanic / Latino20%(41,660)
Asian5.5%(11,464)
Other7.6%(15,777)
Diversity Score65.8%(136,899)
Segregation Score20.3%(42,220)
Diversity Score
66
+89%since 2000
from 35 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
20
−19%since 2020
from 25 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
31.9%
+10.1 ptssince 2000
from 21.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
90.6%
+8.3 ptssince 2000
from 82.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
11.4%
+4.4 ptssince 2000
from 7.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.0 min
+47%since 2000
from 14.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
71.9%
−4.1 ptssince 2009
from 76.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.4%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 10.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.6%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
12.6%
+7.2 ptssince 2009
from 5.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.9%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
1.2%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 2.7% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.0%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 7.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.5%
−5.8 ptssince 2011
from 13.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
59.2%
+2.5 ptssince 2011
from 56.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
17.4%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 16.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
40.2%
−23.1 ptssince 2009
from 63.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.8%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 49.2% in 2009
Female
50.2%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 50.8% in 2009
Foreign born
8.6%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 7.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.8%
−41.6 ptssince 2009
from 48.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
16.3%
−0.4 ptssince 2012
from 16.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.4%
−77.9 ptssince 2013
from 84.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
91.8%
+10.9 ptssince 2017
from 80.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
83.4%
−2.4 ptssince 2016
from 85.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
10.8%
+2.0 ptssince 2016
from 8.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

ChicoCENTRAL105,081
What's inside

1 component county

Butte CountyCENTRAL209,211
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Chico

Elkhart
Pop 208,774
Jacksonville
Pop 217,175
Punta Gorda
Pop 217,212
Athens
Pop 224,148
Places similar to Chico
Head to head

Compare Chico side by side

CHICO VS
Elkhart
Income$68,561+1%
Home value$210,400−50%
Population208,774same
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHICO VS
Jacksonville
Income$68,148same
Home value$236,400−44%
Population217,175+4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHICO VS
Punta Gorda
Income$69,952+3%
Home value$328,900−23%
Population217,212+4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHICO VS
Athens
Income$69,695+3%
Home value$314,999−26%
Population224,148+7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Chico, CA?

Chico, CA has about 207,929 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Chico, CA?

The typical household in Chico, CA earns about $67,928 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Chico, CA expensive?

In Chico, CA, the median home is worth about $424,700, and the typical rent is about $1,414 a month.

How educated are people in Chico, CA?

About 31.9% of adults age 25 and over in Chico, CA hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Chico, CA?

About 19.2% of people in Chico, CA live below the federal poverty line.

Has Chico, CA grown since 1990?

Yes, Chico, CA has grown since 1990. The population has added about 25,809 residents, a change of about 14 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →