Is Chico cheaper than Dallas?

Yes. Typical rent in Chico is $1,625 a month versus $1,931 in Dallas — 16% cheaper. Median household income is $65,932 in Chico compared with $63,985 in Dallas, so Chico has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Chico or Dallas?

Dallas is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 109 versus 122 in Chico — 11% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Chico or Dallas?

School composites are close: A- in Chico and A- in Dallas. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

Chico, CA vs Dallas, TX

Chico, CA versus Dallas, TX is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,625 a month in Chico and $1,931 in Dallas, and median household income lands at $65,932 versus $63,985. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Chico takes affordability, job market, and weather, while Dallas takes safety. The widest gap is typical weather, where Chico leads by 44% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Chico can feel further apart than Chico and Dallas do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Chico and Dallas reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Chico report Full Dallas report

Chico, CA

Rent: $1,625/mo
Median income: $65,932
Crime index: 122
Schools: A-
Weather: 84°F

Dallas, TX

Rent: $1,931/mo
Median income: $63,985
Crime index: 109
Schools: A-
Weather: 92°F

Rent

16% cheaper

Chico rent is 16% cheaper than Dallas

Chico

Winner

$1,625/mo

Dallas

$1,931/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,625 a month in Chico versus $1,931 in Dallas, so Chico is 16% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $3,672 — enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Chico still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Dallas.

Median income

3% higher

Chico's median income is 3% higher than Dallas

Chico

Winner

$65,932

Dallas

$63,985

What this means for your life

Median household income is $65,932 in Chico versus $63,985 in Dallas, so typical pay runs 3% higher in Chico — about $1,947 more household income a year. The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.

Crime index

11% lower crime

Dallas's crime index is 11% lower than Chico

Chico

122 (100 = avg)

Dallas

Winner

109 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Dallas's crime index is 109 versus 122 in Chico (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 11% lower in Dallas. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Dallas, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Chico. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.

School scores

Neck and neck

Chico and Dallas are about even on school scores.

Chico

A- · 84/100

Dallas

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Chico, A- in Dallas). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

44% more comfortable

Chico weather is 44% more comfortable than Dallas

Chico

Winner

84°F typical

Dallas

92°F typical

What this means for your life

Chico scores 44% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 84°F in Chico and 92°F in Dallas. Chico reads as hot, long summers; Dallas reads as hot, long summers. Climate affects quality of life more than most people anticipate when planning a move. Consider how much time you spend outdoors and whether extreme heat or cold impacts your mood or productivity. Chico is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Dallas can still be right if you love that climate on purpose — beach heat, dry heat, or a real winter — but you cannot return a city's weather.

Fit check

Who should choose Chico

Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access

Chico is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 16% cheaper here at about $1,625 a month. Choose Chico if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 3% higher ($65,932), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 84°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Open the Chico report →

Fit check

Who should choose Dallas

Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy

Dallas is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 11% lower than Chico (109 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.

Open the Dallas report →

Bottom line

Chico vs Dallas, called

If weather is your priority, Chico is the clear choice.

If safety matters more to you, Dallas pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Chico offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Chico vs Dallas FAQ

Is Chico cheaper than Dallas?: Yes. Typical rent in Chico is $1,625 a month versus $1,931 in Dallas — 16% cheaper. Median household income is $65,932 in Chico compared with $63,985 in Dallas, so Chico has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Chico or Dallas?: Dallas is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 109 versus 122 in Chico — 11% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Chico or Dallas?: School composites are close: A- in Chico and A- in Dallas. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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