Chico, CA vs Los Altos, 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.
Chico
66.4
#1544 nationally
Los Altos
67.9
#1370 nationally
Los Altos leads in crime level (2.1 vs 19.2). Los Altos leads in median household income ($250,001 vs $65,932). Chico leads in average commute (17.5 min vs 22.8 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Chico, CA | Los Altos, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 66.4 (#1544) | 67.9 (#1370) |
| Population | 101,301 | 29,990 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $464,980 | $4,601,729 |
| Median Household Income | $65,932 | $250,001 |
| Average Commute | 17.5 min | 22.8 min |
| Walk Score | 49 | 46 |
| Crime Level | 19.2 | 2.1 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 133 | N/A |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+3.1 | D+40.0 |
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 →
D+
67.9 Score
Los Altos, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$4,601,729
Population
29,990
Crime
Low
Walk Score
46
Pacific
View Los Altos, CA →