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City · 102,188 residents · Butte County, California

Chico , California

In Chico, a typical home is worth $468,100 and typical rent is $1,488 a month. Compared with all of Butte County, the typical home value is 10% higher, typical rent is 5% higher, and the share of households that own their home is 14 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $468,100

    10% above the county

    36% below California

    • Chico
    • Butte
    • California

  • Typical rent

    $1,488a month

    5% above the county

    27% below California

    • Chico
    • Butte
    • California

  • Typical household income

    $66,977a year

    About the same as the county

    32% below California

    • Chico
    • Butte
    • California

  • Households that own their home

    43%

    14 points below the county

    12 points below California

    • Chico
    • Butte
    • California

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$458,244
0.5% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,561 a month
1.7% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Chico is in Butte County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Butte County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Chico apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Nearby, in Thermalito, the typical home value is $254,900: 46% less than in Chico ($468,100).

  2. Nearby, in Durham, the typical rent is $1,105: 26% less than in Chico ($1,488).

  3. 43% of households in Chico own their home, against 57% in Butte County.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Chico

What homes there are in Chico, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

No kind of home is the majority in Chico; the largest group, detached houses, adds up to 50%, less than in Butte County (61%).

Year built

By age, homes in Chico look like those in Butte County: the typical year built is 1983.

Much as in Butte County, 52% of homes in Chico have 3 bedrooms or more.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

The FHA limit for Butte County is $541,287: about 65% of owner-occupied homes in Chico are worth less, and the rest more.

Monthly rent with utilities

Measured against HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent ($1,509), about 51% of rented homes in Chico cost less.

With a mortgage

$2,281 a month

Butte County: $2,187 a month

Without a mortgage

$713 a month

Butte County: $689 a month

Owners with a mortgage

64%

Butte County: 58%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Chico is $2,281 a month, near the figure in Butte County ($2,187).

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Homes in Chico gained value more slowly than in Butte County: 43% since 2015–2019, against 56%.

The typical rent in Chico rose 35% since 2015–2019, about the same as in Butte County (33%).

Here income did not keep up with housing: it rose 26%, while home values changed +43% and rent +35%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureChicoButte CountyCaliforniaUnited States
Rental vacancy 5.6%5.9%4.2%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate1.6%0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room 3.6%3.8%8.2%3.4%
People per household 2.292.422.842.53
Drive alone 69%72%66%69%
Carpool 10%9%10%9%
Public transit 1%1%3%3%
Walk or bike 6%4%3%3%
Work from home 14%13%17%15%
Other means 2%2%2%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutes10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

In Chico, the rental vacancy rate is 5.6%, about the same as in Butte County.

Much as in Butte County, 3.6% of households in Chico have more than one person per room.

Fewer people live in each home here: 2.29 on average, against 2.42 in Butte County.

To get to work, 69% of workers in Chico drive alone; in Butte County, 72%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Chico?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Chico, worth $468,100, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 68% of the typical household income in Chico, which is $66,977 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $163,713 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Butte County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Chico. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $16,384 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$3,820

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$459,621
Total interest
$661,287
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $7,905 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,563 a month

  • Tight

    $1,563 to $2,009 a month

  • Hard

    more than $2,009 a month

    Your payment · 68%

Compared with the typical household income in Chico ($66,977 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$3,820
Principal & interest$3,114
Property tax$304
Home insurance$195
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$207

You need at least $16,384 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Chico and Butte County

Chico is in Butte County, California. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Chico's own numbers

Typical home value
$468,100
Typical monthly rent
$1,488
Typical yearly household income
$66,977
Households that own their home
43%
Effective property tax rate
0.78%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Butte County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,509
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+23%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
5.6%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Butte County.

Everything about Butte County

Buying

Buying a home in Chico

A typical home in Chico is worth $468,100: 10% above the county and 36% below California. With the typical household income in Chico ($66,977 a year), a typical home costs 7.0 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Chico 7.0 years
  • Butte 6.3 years
  • California 7.4 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Butte County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Butte County rose 74% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Butte County.

Period County California U.S.
Last year (2025) +0.5% +0.8% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +23% +40% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +74% +80% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Chico next to Butte County, California and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Chico $468,100
  • Butte $424,700
  • California $734,700
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Chico $1,488
  • Butte $1,414
  • California $2,036
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Chico $66,977
  • Butte $67,928
  • California $99,122
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Chico next to Butte County and California
Measure Chico Butte County California U.S.
Typical home value $468,100 $424,700 $734,700 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,488 $1,414 $2,036 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $66,977 $67,928 $99,122 $80,734
Households that own their home 43% 57% 56% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $3,656 $2,951 $5,124 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.78% 0.69% 0.7% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 62% 60% 55% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Butte County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Chico

For a typical $468,100 home in Chico, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Chico's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $3,820a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $16,384
    Cash to close
    $30,427
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $207

  • Conventional, 5% down $3,734a month

    Down payment
    $23,405
    Cash to close
    $37,448
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $222

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $3,036a month

    Down payment
    $93,620
    Cash to close
    $107,663
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $3,469a month

    Down payment
    $70,215
    Cash to close
    $84,258
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Chico and for Butte County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Chico

0.78%of the home’s value each year

$3,656 a year for the typical owner in Chico.

  • Chico 0.78%
  • Butte 0.69%
  • California 0.7%

What California publishes Homeowners' exemption (California State Board of Equalization (BOE))

Exemptions and deadlines in California

Flood risk in Butte County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Butte County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
5.6%
4,026
Of those, with NFIP insurance
22%
County California U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 5.6% 2.8% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 22% 31% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Chico

Typical rent in Chico is $1,488 a month: 5% above the county. In Chico, 62% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Butte County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,509 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $29.02 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Butte County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,064 $20.46 $42,560
1 bedroom $1,190 $22.88 $47,600
2 bedrooms $1,509 $29.02 $60,360
3 bedrooms $2,090 $40.19 $83,600
4 bedrooms $2,522 $48.50 $100,880

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Chico

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Chico has 4 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,510 in 95929 to $1,700 in 95973.

4 of the 4 are above the fair market rent for Butte County ($1,509).

  • 95926 $1,550$2,150
  • 95928 $1,570$2,170
  • 95929 $1,510$2,090
  • 95973 $1,700$2,350

3 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Chico when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Chico

HUD lists 23 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Chico. These are the largest.

  • Villa Sierra Apts 729 Nord Ave, Chico 95926 164 homes, 162 low-income · 1 bd: 68 · 2 bd: 96 · In service since 2013 · For families (530) 895-3403
  • Cedar Village 820 W 4th Ave, Chico 95926 116 low-income homes · For families (530) 342-1839
  • Park Avenue Apts 1200 Park Ave, Chico 95928 107 homes, 106 low-income · 1 bd: 86 · 2 bd: 21 · In service since 2006 · For older adults
  • Chico Gardens Apts 851 Pomona Ave, Chico 95928 92 homes, 91 low-income · 1 bd: 28 · 2 bd: 62 · 3 bd: 2 · In service since 2001
  • Harvest Park Apts 75 Harvest Park Ct, Chico 95926 90 homes, 89 low-income · 1 bd: 12 · 2 bd: 40 · 3 bd: 26 · 4 bd: 12 · In service since 2013 · For families

See all 40 buildings in Butte County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Chico

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Butte County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A young woman and a young man point to a line in their notes beside a laptop in a library.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Chico

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Chico or Butte County. The ones below are statewide in California: they work in Chico the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in California

  • MyHome Assistance Program

    Statewide in California

    CalHFA second loan with deferred payments for the down payment or closing costs of first-time buyers in California. Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • California Dream For All Shared Appreciation Loan

    Statewide in California

    Closed, per the source

    CalHFA down payment loan for first-generation buyers in California; when you sell, you repay the loan plus a share of the home's appreciation. Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).

    Shared appreciation

    See the program Official page

  • MyAccess Program

    Statewide in California

    CalHFA second loan with deferred payments for the down payment or closing costs of first-time buyers who use the CalPLUS Access mortgage (FHA or conventional). Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Chico

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Chico, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • The Greater Sacramento Urban League

    3725 Marysville Blvd, Sacramento · 80 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 5 more
    (916) 286-8652

  • Greater Sacramento Urban League-Oak Park

    2331 Alhambra Blvd, Sacramento · 85 miles away · Spanish

    • Budget and credit workshops
    • Homelessness services
    • and 4 more
    (916) 286-8652

  • Sacramento Neighborhood Housing Services Inc Aka Formally Known As Neighborworks Homeownership Center Sacramento Region

    2411 Alhambra Blvd, Sacramento · 85 miles away · Spanish

    Also serves in other languages.

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 8 more
    (916) 452-5356

All counseling agencies in California

Help in Spanish near Chico

3 of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Chico

HUD’s record names them for Chico or Butte County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • County of Butte HSG Auth Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (530) 895-4474

All housing agencies in California Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Butte County

These cities are also in Butte County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Butte County Housing in California

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Chico, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Butte County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Chico.

All guides
Two parents walk hand in hand with their little daughter.

Questions

Housing questions about Chico

Short answers with the numbers for Chico and all of Butte County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Chico?

The typical home value in Chico is $468,100, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Butte County it is $424,700.

How much does it cost to rent in Chico?

Typical rent in Chico is $1,488 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Butte County is $1,509.

What is the FHA loan limit in Chico?

Chico uses the FHA limit for all of Butte County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Chico?

The typical homeowner in Chico pays $3,656 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.78% of the home’s value; in Butte County, the rate is 0.69%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Chico?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Butte County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).