Chico, CA Real Estate Market 2026

Investor-grade market analytics for Chico, California. Data from Zillow ZHVI, FRED, Census ACS, and FEMA NRI. Updated monthly.

Median Home Price

$405,360

+0.5% year-over-year

Est. Rental Yield

4.6%

gross annual

12-Month Forecast

-5.9%

base case (Zillow ZHVF)

-5.9% year-over-year

Market Momentum

➡️
Neutral
3.4mo supply · Score +1/7

Migration: Top 8% nationally

Income Migration

📉 Wealth Drain0.89x

In-migrants avg $52,292 AGI vs out-migrants $58,673

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Opportunity Zone Market

4 ZIP codes in Chico are designated Qualified Opportunity Zones (IRC 1400Z-2), eligible for capital gains tax deferral on qualifying investments. Learn more →

Chico Market Summary

Chico, CA is in a stabilization phase with 0.5% year-over-year appreciation, suggesting cooling demand and a shift toward balanced conditions. Affordability is moderately stretched with a price-to-income ratio of 5.91x, above the national average of 4.8x. Modest net positive migration (+801 returns/year) provides steady demand support. Climate risk is moderate (50/100) with manageable exposure. Rental yield of 4.62% is moderate, offering acceptable cash flow for leveraged investments.

Affordability

Affordability Score58/100
Price-to-Income Ratio5.9x (national avg 4.8x)
Median Household Income$68,574

Price Forecast Scenarios

12-month projection (Zillow ZHVF model)

Bear Case-8.8%
Base Case-5.9%
Bull Case-2.9%

Climate & Natural Hazard Risk

Chico, CA's primary climate exposure is wildfire (70/100). The composite climate risk score of 50/100 (Moderate) indicates overall risk with manageable exposure that should be factored into investment analysis. Buyers should consider climate-related insurance costs and potential future regulatory changes.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Get the full Chico dataset

Migration flows, ZIP-level neighborhood data, full demographics, price history, and the Market Screener.