Rents are 12% below what Chico's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,541 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: August 17, 2026
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Who lives here
Chico, CA is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, 42.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Chico, CA has changed in 5 years
Since 2021, the typical rent in Chico, CA has increased from $1,356 to $1,541, a 13.6% change over five years. Median household income rose from $60,507 to $66,977 between 2021 and 2024, a 10.7% shift. The population has contracted by 1.6% since 2021, moving from about 103,898 residents to roughly 102,188. College-educated residents now make up 42.2% of adults here, versus 39.6% in 2021. Taken together, the five-year picture in Chico, CA reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.
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Can you afford rent in Chico on your salary?
At $1,541/mo, how Chico rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Chico rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Chico. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Chico
Last updated: August 17, 2026
The median rent in Chico is $1,541/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,087/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,490/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,147/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,087/mo.
At 28% of local median household income ($66,977/yr), Chico ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 3.1% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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What percentage of Chico residents rent vs. own?
How does Chico rent compare to the national average?
At $1,541/mo, rent takes ~28% of Chico's median household income ($66,977/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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