Chico, CA Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze population trends, housing costs, and the local economy by exploring Map AI.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population
| Metric | Chico | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 81,119 | 38,909,900 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 2349.8 | 237.3 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 0.86% | 0.19% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 32.9 | 35.4 | 37.1 |
| Households | 35,644 | 13,415,389 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Chico grew by 21.0% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 85,978 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Chico has a the economy index of D, which means it is barely prosperous.
| Metric | Chico | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $66,108 | $96,718 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 6.39% | 6.01% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 6.6% | 6.4% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Chico is about 32% lower than in California.
Housing
| Metric | Chico | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $740,498 | $642,203 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $1,421 | $1,955 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 45.0% | 55.8% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Chico is about 43.4 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $1,421 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Chico spend about 26 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 109 hours, about 4.5 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Chico | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 13.0 | 23.6 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 26.1 | 47.2 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 109 | 197 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $3,366 | $6,099 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 12.5% | 15.5% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 12,697 | 16,509 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 3,322 | 2,449 | 1,355 |
The average commute time in Chico is 13 minutes, shorter than the 24 minutes in California.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Chico has a education index of B, which means it is quite educated.
| Metric | Chico | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.7% | 33.0% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.32 | 2.85 | 2.54 |
Health
Chico has a health index of B, which means it is quite healthy.
| Metric | Chico | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 78.4 | 79.6 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 13.8% | 16.4% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 13.7% | 13.9% | 19.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Chico, California.
What is the population of Chico, California?
The population of Chico, California is 81,119, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Chico, California?
The population density of Chico, California is 2349.8 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Chico, California?
The median household income in Chico, California is $66,108, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Chico, California?
The median home price in Chico, California is $740,498, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Chico, California?
The unemployment rate in Chico, California is 6.6%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.