Is Chico cheaper than Denver?

Yes. Typical rent in Chico is $1,625 a month versus $2,089 in Denver — 22% cheaper. Median household income is $65,932 in Chico compared with $85,853 in Denver, so Denver has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Chico or Denver?

Chico is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 122 versus 137 in Denver — 11% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Chico or Denver?

School composites are close: A- in Chico and A- in Denver. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

Chico, CA vs Denver, CO

Chico, CA versus Denver, CO is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,625 a month in Chico and $2,089 in Denver, and median household income lands at $65,932 versus $85,853. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Chico takes affordability and safety, while Denver takes job market and weather. The widest gap is median income, where Denver leads by 30% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Chico can feel further apart than Chico and Denver do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Chico and Denver reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Chico report Full Denver report

Chico, CA

Rent: $1,625/mo
Median income: $65,932
Crime index: 122
Schools: A-
Weather: 84°F

Denver, CO

Rent: $2,089/mo
Median income: $85,853
Crime index: 137
Schools: A-
Weather: 82°F

Rent

22% cheaper

Chico rent is 22% cheaper than Denver

Chico

Winner

$1,625/mo

Denver

$2,089/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,625 a month in Chico versus $2,089 in Denver, so Chico is 22% cheaper. That's roughly $464/month back in your pocket — $5,568/year. Over five years that's $27,840 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Denver, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Chico is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

30% higher

Denver's median income is 30% higher than Chico

Chico

$65,932

Denver

Winner

$85,853

What this means for your life

Median household income is $85,853 in Denver versus $65,932 in Chico, so typical pay runs 30% higher in Denver — about $19,921 more household income a year. Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Denver is the stronger labor market on paper. Chico can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.

Crime index

11% lower crime

Chico's crime index is 11% lower than Denver

Chico

Winner

122 (100 = avg)

Denver

137 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Chico's crime index is 122 versus 137 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 11% lower in Chico. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Chico, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Denver. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.

School scores

Neck and neck

Chico and Denver are about even on school scores.

Chico

A- · 84/100

Denver

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Chico, A- in Denver). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

8% more comfortable

Denver weather is 8% more comfortable than Chico

Chico

84°F typical

Denver

Winner

82°F typical

What this means for your life

Denver scores 8% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 84°F in Chico and 82°F in Denver. Chico reads as hot, long summers; Denver reads as hot, long summers. The comfort edge is real but not a personality transplant. If you already know you want Chico's season, a modest index lead should not talk you out of it. If you are undecided, Denver is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Fit check

Who should choose Chico

Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy

Chico is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 22% cheaper here at about $1,625 a month. Choose Chico if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Chico is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 11% lower than Denver (122 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.

Open the Chico report →

Fit check

Who should choose Denver

Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access

It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 30% higher ($85,853), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 82°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Open the Denver report →

Bottom line

Chico vs Denver, called

If the job market is your priority, Denver is the clear choice.

If cost of living matters more to you, Chico pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Chico offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Chico vs Denver FAQ

Is Chico cheaper than Denver?: Yes. Typical rent in Chico is $1,625 a month versus $2,089 in Denver — 22% cheaper. Median household income is $65,932 in Chico compared with $85,853 in Denver, so Denver has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Chico or Denver?: Chico is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 122 versus 137 in Denver — 11% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Chico or Denver?: School composites are close: A- in Chico and A- in Denver. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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