Metro area profile · California
Chico, CA metro area market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in the Chico metro area, each scored against other metro areas.
- Population, 2025
- 209,211
- −0.5% since 2020
- Households
- 83,312
- Median household income
- $67,928
- +29.3% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $424,700
- Jobs located here
- 75,172
- Highest market score
- 69
- Car washes and detailing, #50 of 387 scored metro areas
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the Chico metro area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the Chico metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
An estimated 209,211 people live in the Chico metro area, in 83,312 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of the Chico metro area declined 0.5%, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median household income in the Chico metro area is $67,928 a year, 16% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 29.3% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in the Chico metro area spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 108, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on clothing, shoes and related services (84).
The highest Groundwork market scores in the Chico metro area are for car washes and detailers (69), collision repair and body shops (62) and veterinarians (59). The Chico metro area ranks #50 of 387 scored metro areas for car washes and detailers.
The Chico metro area is made up of one county, Butte County. For its number of households, the Chico metro area has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for property management companies (87% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for funeral homes (33% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in the Chico metro area
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the Chico metro area with other metro areas for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among metro areas | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Car washes and detailing | 69 | #50 of 387 | 27 | 3.2 | $3.2M | 127 | 8 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 62 | #110 of 381 | 18 | 2.2 | $4.8M | 156 | 21 |
| Veterinarians | 59 | #128 of 384 | 24 | 2.9 | $3.2M | 118 | 22 |
| Funeral homes | 51 | #164 of 377 | 12 | 1.4 | $948K | 140 | 10 |
| Hair salons | 50 | #185 of 387 | 199 | 23.9 | $399K | 93 | 20 |
| Pizza | 50 | #188 of 387 | 56 | 6.7 | $5.5M | 109 | 162 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 50 | #193 of 387 | 44 | 5.3 | $2.3M | 131 | 132 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 50 | #194 of 387 | 100 | 12.0 | $3.1M | 102 | 162 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 49 | #207 of 386 | 31 | 3.7 | $2.5M | 97 | 18 |
| Dry cleaners | 48 | #157 of 272 | 5 | 0.6 | $28.8M | 183 | 8 |
| Pet businesses | 48 | #209 of 387 | 92 | 11.0 | $836K | 95 | 48 |
| Gas stations | 48 | #209 of 387 | 86 | 10.3 | $2.6M | 108 | 62 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 48 | #210 of 387 | 447 | 53.7 | $693K | 104 | 129 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 47 | #227 of 387 | 371 | 44.5 | $214K | 101 | 66 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 47 | #228 of 386 | 31 | 3.7 | $3.3M | 105 | 13 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 46 | #217 of 387 | 609 | 73.1 | $168K | 110 | 290 |
| Barbershops | 46 | #231 of 387 | 37 | 4.4 | $2.1M | 114 | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | 44 | #234 of 386 | 46 | 5.5 | $2.2M | 93 | 28 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 43 | #184 of 290 | 8 | 1.0 | $10.8M | 79 | 7 |
| Tire shops | 43 | #242 of 386 | 33 | 4.0 | $2.6M | 105 | 17 |
| Child care and preschools | 43 | #247 of 387 | 55 | 6.6 | $945K | 94 | 63 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 42 | #250 of 387 | 114 | 13.7 | $1.3M | 99 | 50 |
| Roofing and gutters | 41 | #265 of 381 | 22 | 2.6 | $10.2M | 120 | 26 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 41 | #268 of 387 | 271 | 32.5 | Index only | 97 | 78 |
| Gyms | 41 | #270 of 387 | 75 | 9.0 | $1.1M | 87 | 30 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 40 | #258 of 347 | 21 | 2.5 | $4M | 99 | 30 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 40 | #269 of 387 | 165 | 19.8 | $871K | 99 | 58 |
| Chiropractors | 40 | #271 of 386 | 51 | 6.1 | $2M | 84 | 20 |
| Home repair trades | 40 | #273 of 387 | 97 | 11.6 | $2.3M | 95 | 150 |
| Insurance agencies | 39 | #251 of 387 | 129 | 15.5 | $1.2M | 96 | 78 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 39 | #264 of 387 | 843 | 101.2 | $367K | 99 | 368 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 39 | #271 of 373 | 38 | 4.6 | Index only | 97 | 17 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 39 | #276 of 387 | 55 | 6.6 | $4.1M | 86 | 63 |
| Auto repair and car care | 39 | #280 of 387 | 342 | 41.1 | $253K | 94 | 133 |
| Spas and skin care | 39 | #293 of 387 | 83 | 10.0 | $957K | 109 | 22 |
| Nail salons | 39 | #302 of 387 | 42 | 5.0 | $1.9M | 113 | 22 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 38 | #292 of 387 | 65 | 7.8 | $4.8M | 115 | 79 |
| Real estate | 38 | #299 of 387 | 359 | 43.1 | Index only | 92 | 168 |
| Convenience stores | 37 | #281 of 387 | 67 | 8.0 | $7.2M | 92 | 23 |
| Electricians | 37 | #291 of 383 | 20 | 2.4 | $11.2M | 93 | 61 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 34 | #299 of 387 | 141 | 16.9 | $3.4M | 101 | 67 |
| Auto repair shops | 34 | #309 of 387 | 219 | 26.3 | $395K | 89 | 97 |
| Pet stores | 34 | #311 of 382 | 21 | 2.5 | $3.7M | 81 | 8 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 34 | #327 of 387 | 154 | 18.5 | $549K | 83 | 59 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 30 | #343 of 387 | 108 | 13.0 | $947K | 96 | 90 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 29 | #354 of 387 | 58 | 7.0 | $1.5M | 72 | 29 |
| Grocery stores | 27 | #336 of 387 | 52 | 6.2 | $9.3M | 100 | 44 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 27 | #342 of 385 | 48 | 5.8 | $2.2M | 74 | 93 |
| Property management | 26 | #363 of 374 | 47 | 5.6 | Index only | 55 | 54 |
| House cleaning | 24 | #358 of 375 | 33 | 4.0 | $3.2M | 49 | 42 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 21 | #377 of 387 | 107 | 12.8 | $2.9M | 78 | 76 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 18 | #384 of 387 | 99 | 11.9 | $1.1M | 63 | 158 |
| Pest control | 13 | #344 of 345 | 18 | 2.2 | $5.8M | 57 | 23 |
| Laundromats | 13 | #358 of 364 | 17 | 2.0 | $8.5M | 68 | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 0.4 | Index only | 182 | 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 7 |
Household spending in the Chico metro area
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $86.6M | $1,039 | 108 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $221.1M | $2,654 | 102 |
| Food away from home | $309.7M | $3,717 | 91 |
| Groceries | $484.7M | $5,818 | 92 |
| Personal care products and services | $79.4M | $953 | 95 |
| Child care and other personal services | $52M | $624 | 107 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $84.5M | $1,015 | 103 |
| Medical and dental services | $102.3M | $1,228 | 95 |
| Pets | $76.9M | $923 | 102 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $143.8M | $1,726 | 84 |
| Vehicle insurance | $156.2M | $1,875 | 96 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $223.9M | $2,688 | 89 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $104.3M | $1,252 | 89 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $1.4B | $17,190 | 103 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in the Chico metro area
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 209,211−0.5% since 2020
- Households
- 83,312
- Median age
- 38.7
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 57%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.9
- Land area
- 1,637 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 127
- Median household income
- $67,928+29.3% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $95,439
- Median home value
- $424,700
- Jobs located here
- 75,172
- Daytime population
- 203,711Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in the Chico metro area?
These figures cover the whole metro area. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of the Chico metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Counties in the Chico metro area 1
- Butte County, CA207,929 people
Other markets based in California 12
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area12,974,487 people
- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area4,675,704 people
- San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area4,645,029 people
- San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area3,288,774 people
- Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro area2,426,388 people
- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area1,969,337 people
- Fresno, CA metro area1,177,665 people
- Bakersfield-Delano, CA metro area915,075 people
- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA metro area837,469 people
- Stockton-Lodi, CA metro area797,334 people
- Modesto, CA metro area553,990 people
- Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA metro area485,040 people
Questions
How fast is the Chico, CA metro area growing?
Population estimates put the Chico metro area at 209,211 people in 2025, down 0.5% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 83,312 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 29.3%, before inflation.
How much do households in the Chico, CA metro area spend?
Households in the Chico metro area spend about $1.4B a year on rent and homeowner costs, $484.7M on groceries and $309.7M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in the Chico metro area runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 108, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on clothing, shoes and related services (84).
Which business types have the highest market scores in the Chico, CA metro area?
Of the business types scored in the Chico metro area, car washes and detailers (69), collision repair and body shops (62) and veterinarians (59) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For car washes and detailers, that ranks #50 of 387 scored metro areas.
How does the Chico, CA metro area compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in the Chico metro area is $67,928, 16% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 0.5% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $424,700, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for property management companies (87% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for funeral homes (33% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 54 of the 56 business types have a score in the Chico metro area, each ranked against other metro areas.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in the Chico metro area. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in the Chico metro area?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of the Chico metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.