AreaProfile

Compare

Ukiah vs Chico

Which is the better fit for you?

Ukiah, CA
37
Area Score
Bottom 1% nationally
Chico, CA
43
Area Score
Bottom 4% nationally

Chico receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.

Signals

Ukiah
Chico
Opportunity
38 · Bottom 14%
vs
37 · Bottom 13%
Growth
16 · Bottom 5%
vs
46 · Bottom 43%
Climate
74 · Top 32%
vs
72 · Top 42%
Physical resilience
10 · Bottom 4%
vs
22 · Bottom 17%
Housing affordability
53 · Bottom 12%
vs
46 · Bottom 8%
Access
38 · Bottom 2%
vs
53 · Bottom 5%
Economic stability
42 · Bottom 20%
vs
47 · Bottom 26%

Measured values

MetricUkiahChicoSource period
Population16,304102,1882024 ACS 5-Year
Median household income$66,160$66,9772024 ACS 5-Year
Per capita income$37,291$38,8302024 ACS 5-Year
Population density2,971/sq mi2,973/sq mi2024 ACS 5-Year
Median home value$458,400$468,1002024 ACS 5-Year
Median gross rent$1,331$1,4882024 ACS 5-Year
Homeownership rate44.7%43.4%2024 ACS 5-Year
Unemployment rate5.2%5.1%June 2026
Employment change (year over year)-1.1%-2.2%June 2026
Bachelor's degree or higher22.2%42.2%2024 ACS 5-Year
Poverty rate17.9%22.7%2024 ACS 5-Year
Housing units permitted (12 months)423012 months ending July 2026
Permits per 1,000 residents0.22.312 months ending July 2026
Permit change (year over year)-60.0%48.4%12 months ending July 2026
Average July high94°F96°F1991-2020 Normals
Average January low37°F40°F1991-2020 Normals
Annual precipitation34.8"25.7"1991-2020 Normals
Distance to major airport92 mi74 miNASR current cycle
Average commute20.0 min19.0 min2024 ACS 5-Year
Median age39.231.12024 ACS 5-Year
Public schools15202024-25 school year
Students per teacher20.3521.082024-25 school year
Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility78.8%54.9%2024-25 school year

A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.

Physical risk tradeoff

Ukiah

Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, wildfire, inland flooding.

Chico

Elevated or high exposure: drought, wildfire, earthquake.

Your best match

Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.

Ukiah
39
Your Score
37
Area Score
Chico
46
Your Score
43
Area Score

Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.

Full profiles: Ukiah, CA · Chico, CA · How this is calculated: methodology

Ukiah vs Chico: Location Comparison | AreaProfile