ZIP Code · CA

ZIP 95973

Part of Chico, CA

Pop. 39,031·Butte County·841st most expensive ZIP in California

Median rent (all units)

$1,811/mo

Year-over-Year

+1.8%

Month-over-Month

-0.2%

vs US Median

-$121

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 95973 · $1,811

More expensive than 50% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,290

1 BR

$1,410

2 BR

$1,810

3 BR

$2,520

4 BR+

$3,040

Research median

$1,810/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Cheapest month to sign

December. Asking rents in ZIP 95973 usually run 1.2% below trend in December and 1.3% above it in September, about $45 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 95973 is 0.5% below its high of $1,821 in June 2026, at $1,811 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of California

Rent in ZIP 95973 changed +1.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 819 California ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.2%.

Recent direction

Rent has fallen 3 months in a row, and rose in 5 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($92,813) is $2,320 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,810); a 3-bedroom is $2,520.

Rank in Chico

3rd cheapest of 3 ZIP codes in Chico.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 95973. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$21,732/yr

At $1,811/mo median

Location

CityChico

StateCA

CountyButte County

Rent Market Meter

Balanced Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.

Based on rent-price momentum (+1.8% YoY, -0.2% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 95973 (Chico, CA) is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 41.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

39,031

Median income

$92,813

Median age

37.6

Renters

37.9%

Age distribution

22.8%

23.7%

25.8%

16.4%

Under 1822.8%

18–3423.7%

35–5425.8%

55–6411.2%

65+16.4%

Gender

49.2%

50.8%

Male49.2%

Female50.8%

Race & ethnicity

69.7%

19.7%

White69.7%

Black1.7%

Hispanic19.7%

Asian5.3%

Other3.6%

Education (25+)

18.9%

34.1%

41.8%

No HS diploma5.3%

HS diploma18.9%

Some college34.1%

Bachelor's+41.8%

Housing tenure

62.1%

37.9%

Owner62.1%

Renter37.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2022 vs 2026

How ZIP 95973 in Chico, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,645 → $1,811

up 10.1%

Income

$80,249 → $92,813

up 15.7%

Population

38,490 → 39,031

up 1.4%

Renter share

38.4% → 37.9%

-0.5 pts

Bachelor's+

40.1% → 41.8%

+1.7 pts

Median age

37.1 → 37.6

+0.5 yrs

The median rent in ZIP 95973 in Chico, CA stood at $1,645 in 2022 and currently runs about $1,811, reflecting a 10.1% increase over the period. Median household income rose from $80,249 to $92,813 between 2021 and 2024, a 15.7% shift. On paper, paychecks moved up faster than rent, which softens the affordability squeeze versus the 2021 baseline. The population has grown by 1.4% since 2021, moving from about 38,490 residents to roughly 39,031. Taken together, the five-year picture in ZIP 95973 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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About renting in ZIP 95973

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 95973 covers Chico, CA. The median rent here is $1,811/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,410/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,810/mo.

At 23% of local median household income ($92,813/yr), ZIP 95973 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.8% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 95973?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $72,000/year (about $35/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,811/mo in ZIP 95973. The local median household income is $92,813/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 95973?

Rent in ZIP 95973 has risen 1.8% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 0.5% below its high of $1,821 in June 2026.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 95973?

Asking rents in ZIP 95973 are usually lowest in December, about 1.2% below their yearly trend, and highest in September, about 1.3% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $45 a month. This pattern comes from 5 years of Zillow rent data.

How does ZIP 95973 compare to other ZIPs in California?

ZIP 95973 is one of the more affordable among California ZIP codes for rent, ranking #841 of 898 at $1,811/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 95973 changed +1.8%, against a typical +3.2% across the 819 California ZIP codes Zillow tracks.