Austin, TX vs Chico, CA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Austin
68.3
#1322 nationally
Chico
66.4
#1544 nationally
Chico leads in average commute (17.5 min vs 26.8 min). Austin leads in median household income ($91,461 vs $65,932). Chico leads in walk score (49 vs 42).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Austin, TX | Chico, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 68.3 (#1322) | 66.4 (#1544) |
| Population | 967,862 | 101,301 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $504,148 | $464,980 |
| Median Household Income | $91,461 | $65,932 |
| Average Commute | 26.8 min | 17.5 min |
| Walk Score | 42 | 49 |
| Crime Level | Moderate | 19.2 |
| School Rating | 7.2 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 129 | 133 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+39.3 | R+3.1 |
D+
68.3 Score
Austin, TX
Live music capital meets tech innovation
Median Home
$504,148
Population
967,862
Crime
Moderate
Schools
B
Southwest
View Austin, TX →
D
66.4 Score
Chico, CA
Mid-size California city with community character
Median Home
$464,980
Population
101,301
Crime
High
Walk Score
49
Pacific
View Chico, CA →