United States › Chico METRO AREA · 2000 CENSUS
Chico Metro Chico, CA · 1 counties · 203,171 residents · 1,636 sq mi
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The short version
Chico is a metro area of 203,171 people. The poverty rate is 19.8%, above the 12.4% national rate. Households take in $31,924 at the median, 25% less than the US figure. Owners hold 61% of the housing stock. Headcount has barely moved since 1990. 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Mid-age
median age 35.8
US median: 35.2
Average education
22% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
More affordable
home values down 6%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01
Population & growth 124 / sq mi
+12%since 1990
from 111 / sq mi in 1990
from 34.0 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
178K 191K 205K 218K 232K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Chico Age distribution, 2000
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Section 02
Income & economy $31,924
+6%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $22,776 in 1990
US average: $42,589
from $12,083 in 1990
US average: $21,522
from 18.9% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
$116,200
−6%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $94,000 in 1990
US average: $120,530
$563
−3%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $439 in 1990
US average: $602
from 61.1% in 1990
39.3% rent
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 1990
White, non-Hispanic 90.8%(165,364)
Hispanic / Latino 7.4%(13,472)
2000
White, non-Hispanic 80%(162,564)
Hispanic / Latino 10.5%(21,339)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.
Hispanic origin
+ 7 more hispanic origin groups with data Asian origin
+ 7 more asian origin groups with data Ancestry
+ 44 more ancestry groups with data from 19.5% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
from 77.6% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
from 6.0% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 18.9 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07
Work & employment No data for the years selected.
Section 08
People & community No data for the years selected.
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 33.4%(26,329)
Women 15+
Never married 25.5%(21,630)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09
Health coverage Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).
from 15.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 47.2% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 16.1% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 20.6% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 30.8% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 3.0% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 61.5% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 47.5% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
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) 19.1%(2,146)
Gulf War (1990s) 18.8%(2,112)
Share of the 11,249 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.
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In this metro
Largest cities ChicoCENTRAL 105,081 Oroville 20,451 Paradise 10,023 Oroville East 7,504 Magalia 7,389 Gridley 7,258 Thermalito 6,720 Durham 5,340 Palermo 5,266 South Oroville 2,846 Kelly Ridge 2,825 Biggs 1,927 Forest Ranch 1,915 Butte Valley 1,087 Berry Creek 760 Butte Creek Canyon 713 Bangor 597 Cohasset 573 Clipper Mills 414 Stirling City 344 Honcut 271 Yankee Hill 232 Nord 190 Concow 183 Richvale 145 Rackerby 138 Robinson Mill 100 Cherokee 99 Forbestown 90 Butte Meadows 25 What's inside
1 component county Drill deeper
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Chico, CA? Chico, CA has about 203,171 residents according to the 2000 Census.
What is the median household income in Chico, CA? The typical household in Chico, CA earns about $31,924 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 $116,200, and the typical rent is about $563 a month.
How educated are people in Chico, CA? About 21.8% 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 19.8% 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 21,051 residents, a change of about 12 percent over that period.
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