Chico, CA Homes For Rent

Homes for Rent in Chico, CA: What You Need to Know

Chico is located in Sacramento Valley, an agriculture-rich region in northern California. The city is home to Bidwell Park, one of America’s largest city parks.

Job Opportunities in Chico, CA

Chico, located in Butte County, is the core city of the Chico metropolitan area, which includes Oroville and Paradise. Agriculture is a key driver of the local economy, with major crops such as almonds, rice, olives, kiwis, peaches, and plums. Apart from agriculture, the area has thriving education and health care industries. Chico’s biggest employers include California State University-Chico, United Healthcare, Enloe Homecare, Enloe Medical Center, Knife River Construction, and Sufferfest Brewing Co. 

Things to Do in Chico, CA

Bidwell Park, which represents over 17% of the city, is a must-see. The park sprawls on 3,670 acres of terrain. Divided by Manzanita Ave., it consists of the Lower Park (west of Manzanita Ave.) and the Middle and Upper Park (area to the east). It’s a great place for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and paragliding. Peregrine Point, an 18-hole advanced disc golf course, and Sycamore Pool, a concrete pool built around Big Chico Creek, are some of the park’s most popular attractions. Chico History Museum exhibits celebrate the region’s heritage. Permanent displays include a topographic map of northern California, a Chinese temple, and an exhibit on the Mechoopda tribe, the area’s original inhabitants. 

Is it Expensive to Live in Chico, CA?

Chico (population: 103,301) is very reasonable compared with coastal cities in California. Chico’s cost of living rate, food, and housing costs are 5.6%, 10.7%, and 2.3% higher than the national average respectively. The median gross rent is $1,100. California charges 1% to 13.3% in income tax and 7.25% to 10.50% in sales tax, among the highest tax rates in the country. 

How Did Chico, CA Get its Name?

The name stemmed from Rancho del Arroyo Chico, Gen. John Bidwell’s 28,000-acre property. Arroyo chico means “little stream” in Spanish. Bidwell founded Chico in 1860. The city was incorporated in 1872. Bidwell, originally from New York State, was one of the pioneers to cross over California and one of the first to discover gold on the Feather River.

Is There a University in Chico, CA?

California State University-Chico – better known as Chico State – is based in the city. The university was founded in 1887 as Northern Branch State Normal School. Today, the university has 17,578 students and it stands on a 132-acre campus. It offers more than 340 academic programs. There are 22 other colleges and universities within 100 miles of the city.