Chico is a city of about 105,000 people (Census estimate for July 2025), the largest in Butte County. Its median home value is $468,100 and median rent $1,488 (American Community Survey, 2020-2024), and the Chico metro area’s unemployment rate was 5.9% in September 2026, a preliminary BLS figure. Every number here comes from the Census Bureau or the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Checked October 29, 2026
- 105,081people, July 2025 estimate
- $66,977median household income
- $1,488median gross rent
- 5.9%unemployment, Sep 2026 (prelim.)
- Population and HousingPopulation, age, homeownership, home values, rent, education and commute, Chico against Butte County and Oroville.
- Jobs and WagesUnemployment and labor force for the Chico metro area, and the average wage across all jobs.
Getting Around and Weather
Buses, the train and the weather by month are on Plan a Visit. Parks and outdoor rules are in our guides.
What We Could Not Verify
- Median age is not on QuickFacts, and the Census API needed a key we did not use, so it is left out. Not confirmed
- These pages describe places, never who lives where.
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, QuickFacts (Chico city, Butte County, Oroville city): https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/chicocitycalifornia,buttecountycalifornia,paradisetowncalifornia,orovillecitycalifornia/PST045224 (checked October 29, 2026)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, LAUS, Chico MSA (series LAUMT061702000000003): https://api.bls.gov/publicAPI/v2/timeseries/data/LAUMT061702000000003 (checked October 29, 2026)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, Chico MSA all occupations mean wage: https://api.bls.gov/publicAPI/v2/timeseries/data/OEUM001702000000000000004 (checked October 29, 2026)
Cite this page: It's Chico, “Living in Chico”, itschico.com/living/ (updated ). By the It's Chico editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.