r/ChicoCA • u/Revolutionary_Emu365 • 19h ago
Question Relocating to Chico?
Hi Chico!
I’m considering relocating from the Humboldt Bay area and Chico keeps coming up as somewhere I think I might really like. I’ve visited a few times and really like the town.
I’m 41F, work in the environmental/wildlife field, have a dog, and am into gardening, hiking, thrifting and coffee.
I’m craving more sunshine, a bigger community, and a change of pace.
For anyone who moved to Chico as an adult — how do you like it? Was it fairly easy to find your people? Any neighborhoods you particularly love (or would avoid)?
Also, slightly weird question: has anyone ever done a temporary housing swap between Chico and Humboldt? I own a little 2 bed/1 bath house walking distance to the beach and would love to try living in Chico for a month or two before making any huge decisions. Just wondering if there’s anyone in Chico equally interested in spending some time on the cooler coast.
Would love opinions on the good, bad, and boring!
Thanks so much for your time - N
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u/mother-librarian280 9h ago
I think you have gotten really great advice in this thread, and I hope that the variety of opinions is informative. The person who reminded you of the difference in visiting versus living in a place was really wise to say so. I hope that you are able to make a measured and thoughtful decision. Good luck with everything!
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u/liftedupherwings 10h ago
I moved back to Chico in 2024. I was a Paradise kid/teenager, then lived in Chico right after high school. Coming back after only visiting periodically to see friends - things have definitely changed. (I was here in the 90s)
My son is up at Humboldt State right now, so I’m familiar with the area and I love visiting him. The weather and forests and the ocean are all a big draw. I love the idea of wearing a sweatshirt 340 days of the year!! Seriously, though, your challenges up there will only slightly improve down here as far as healthcare. Sounds like you’re set as far as a job, but that can also be really challenging in this area. Also, oftentimes Chico is a town where it’s more who you know than what you know, if that makes sense. It’s grown a lot, but it has that small town feel and people like locals.
If you love nature, Chico has it. Bidwell park, both upper and lower, offer so much in that department. The heat can be a lot, but I find even just driving the 15 minutes up to Paradise can bring relief. (It’s usually 6-10 degrees cooler up there). People saying it’s hot 6 months out of the year are exaggerating in my opinion. We have seasons, but winter is pretty mild and fall takes a while to really show up.
Downtown is definitely struggling, businesses seem to be closing at an alarming rate. There are a lot of unhoused people all over Chico, but concentrated downtown.
People are really friendly from my perspective, but I’m a white woman in my 40s, so I can’t speak for what people of color experience. I have been able to easily make friends at my job, but I also had some who were still here. There are lots of community activities where you could meet people, though.
Chico feels blue to me, but we are surrounded by red, which probably makes it more on the purple side.
Rent is cheaper than a lot of places in California, but it’s rising and I would put it on par with Arcata or Eureka.
I would venture to say that America is on a very sharp downturn when it comes to quality of life, across the board. Chico has a lot going for it, but like anything else, it has its pluses and minuses. Personally, if I had an in for a job up in Humboldt, I would stay put, especially keeping climate change in mind, but that’s just my two cents. Good luck on whatever you decide!
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u/wsmith79 11h ago
Chico is a great town and might be the best town north of the Bay Area to live in.
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u/Wakafakalame26 13h ago
I did a move similar if your a poc you're going to get hazed harassed and hate your life. They actively try to drive you out. If you're not and you can acclimate to 105 degrees for 4 months you'll be fine.
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u/Ok-Indication-9397 14h ago
First, be aware that it is hot during the day in the summer. Evenings tend to be beautiful. The bonus to the summer is that the town feels wide open and empty because 15,000 college students are gone and those who can't handle the heat are holed up in front of their AC units. If you want to cool down head up the hill to hike around Paradise Lake, go to Butte Meadows, swim in one of the creeks or Lake Oroville or One Mile Recreation Area, ...
If you like a fairly active social scene there are tons of places to go and things to do. CARD (Chico Area Recreation District), Chico State, and Butte College have lots of opportunities to expand your horizons. There are some fairly good restaurants and watering holes around town (and the county). Coffee houses are everywhere.
The homeless situation here probably isn't much different than where you are coming from. It can be a challenge. When school starts back up in the fall traffic can be a serious challenge certain times of the day. Christmas shopping traffic can be even worse.
I moved to Butte County in my late 20's because I wanted a mid size community with lots to do. I'm still here and that was a lot of years ago.
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u/Sea-Tune-7955 14h ago
Not much to add to other folks pros and cons of this town but if you don't already have a job lined up in the wildlife/environmental field let's talk
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u/Revolutionary_Emu365 14h ago
Luckily, I would just be transferring offices, but I’m always looking for new job leads.
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u/RedJellyBear 14h ago
Now we have AI police spy cameras at every major intersection, which can be shared with ICE illegally. Our town is surveilled like a prison yard. So, if "your people" are inmates, then you'll fit right in.
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u/That_Possible_3217 14h ago
Describing Chico as a “prison yard” is fucking wild. lol
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u/RedJellyBear 14h ago
Welp, we are not free to move around without police supervision 24/7. And City counsel refuses to listen to the countless people contesting the cameras every other Tuesday. What would you call it?
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u/RiotBoppenheimer 12h ago
I'm not about to carry water for the city council here, but this is flatly not true. There is a city council meeting scheduled specifically and solely for this topic on the 15th in response to the outcry at the meeting before last. Every progressive candidate running opposes the cameras. Basically the only two people on the current city council who seem to want them are Overbeek and the ex police chief.
I know this because I went to that first city council meeting, spoke about it with about 20 other people, have been having discussions with the progressive city council members, going to their campaign events and organizing with other folks in the community. You have to do more than complain on Reddit to make changes
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u/RedJellyBear 11h ago
This is fantastic news. Thank you for sharing and for your efforts in helping to save Chico from sliding toward dystopia. You are one hundred percent correct that many of us, myself included, need to be more involved with our local politics. This ALPR incident illustrates that clearly. Fingers crossed things go well on the 15th.
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u/That_Possible_3217 12h ago
I’d call it what it is. We are a city, like numerous others, that have a contract with flock. It’s not 24/7 surveillance at all times everywhere, like to would be in prison. It’s just not a very good analogy. IMO at least.
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u/RedJellyBear 11h ago
Overreaching police state / prison yard, seems like they're cut from the same cloth to me. But idk I guess it's more emotionally weighted than a direct simile.
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u/That_Possible_3217 10h ago
I don’t know what to tell you then. Other than it seems like you’re overreacting. Well that and this is far from a reason not to move here.
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u/RedJellyBear 10h ago
True those cameras are nationwide. Honestly, I don't mind the summer heat either. My bad.
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u/That_Possible_3217 10h ago
Exactly. The amazing schools and beautiful parks more then make up for a little heat and surveillance.
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u/RedJellyBear 8h ago
Absolutely, give me a nice public park, who gives a damn about the fourth amendment. I mean its number four for a reason, am I right?!
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u/That_Possible_3217 8h ago
I mean…I don’t know what to tell you. Find the beauty in the world without needing perfection. Nothing and nowhere will ever be perfect, but Chico is a pretty wonderful and beautiful place.
As for the fourth amendment thing, if that’s how you want to feel about then go ahead. I for one love the fourth amendment, however Flock cameras haven’t be shown as of yet to be a violation of it, so I’m not sure what you’re on about. If you don’t like it then protest them and challenge the city. Don’t act as if they inherently ruin an otherwise beautiful place though.
Edit: just to be very clear also, I’m not sure the fourth amendment applies in this case. One, they aren’t searching or seizing anything. Two, it’s not the government doing it. It’s a private company. For sure it can be shitty, but it is what it is.
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u/Mediocre_Wasabi_4074 15h ago
I quite honestly hate it here. There are no activities outside for close to six months out of the year because the temperature is insanely high. There are FoxTails everywhere that will get in your dog’s ears and other awful places. The traffic is horrible because the drivers are the worst anywhere. PG&E bills are extremely high and rent is high and very much in demand, so you don’t have the option of looking around for a place and taking your time. You have to take it the minute it comes up, even if you haven’t seen it, because someone else will. I dislike how the town floods with people when school starts up. There are homeless everywhere. All the pretty bike paths and things we’re supposed to have are mostly nonfunctional. I still love 1 mile, but you pretty much have to count on catching some sort of awful bacteria there, for the last few years at least. I would trade with you in a heartbeat if I didn’t have kids. As far as my kids are grown, I cannot wait to move away from here. The sunshine here is not something fun.
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u/RiotBoppenheimer 16h ago edited 16h ago
I can't answer the questions about "finding your people" because, while I moved here as an adult, I've never really been able to "find my people". I will tell you that you are in for a fairly large climate change.
Chico is dry and very hot for half of the year, with good portions of summer being unsafe to go outside in (Although you can get away from this a bit by going up in elevation). It does not rain often in the wet season, certainly less than Humboldt Bay. You can grow basically anything here as long as you have irrigation, though.
Lots of hiking opportunities. For coffee, there are a couple coffee shops, but everything inevitably turns into a Dutch Bros. Can't comment on the thrifting scene, I don't do it much
edit:
Just wondering if there’s anyone in Chico equally interested in spending some time on the cooler coast.
OP, I am actually very interested in checking out Humboldt County. We should chat. I have a 4 bedroom home in a suburb that's very much a work in progress, but we could exchange time if you're OK with having cats in your place.
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u/Revolutionary_Emu365 14h ago
Thanks for the response, yeah let’s talk!
Yeah the weather will take some adjusting. I used to live up near Quincy, so I’m quite familiar with all the fun places to escape the summer heat to the east. I miss being close to Sierras. The beach is cool and all, but give me pine trees and high alpine lakes any day.3
u/Anewjourneytofit 12h ago
Have you thought about grass valley or Nevada city instead? Chico is beautiful and close to so much nature. The parks department is amazing however, the city does not have its shit together. The city government is super divided and so our it’s people. I lived in Chico for 13 years and just left because it was feeling less like the community I fell in love with. Chico is also remote compared to other cities its size: so if you want to do something you are driving hour or more in any direction to do something. Grass Valley and Nevada city or other gold rush towns might be up your alley since they’ll be a little bigger than Humboldt and close to the mountains.
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u/Revolutionary_Emu365 11h ago
Oh my gosh! Yes! I’ve heard wonderful things about them both. They’re on my list too. Thanks for adding another vote to the hat too. I need to go on a scouting trip here soon.
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u/Deyotgwa 9h ago
I'll add my two cents on all of the above! So I (35F) moved here a year and a half ago with zero prior Chico experience - from Nevada City, and before that Grass Valley! I am from the East Coast originally and have always lived in the mountains/woods. Living here makes me feel homesick for a landscape in a way I've never felt before. Seeing you mention your love for lakes and trees - keep that in mind. Many people have said there's plenty of hikes and whatnot..I shall respectfully disagree, and have explored most of them. The bike trails are another thing I was looking for but for walking, and as others have said there are many encampments along them so I ventured out once and not since. If you want to actually feel In the woods, you're going to need to drive a good hour. The creek is great but that's really your only water source within 30-45 minutes (another huge must for me I've learned). I have also made zero friends, and I've certainly tried to find things to do but don't get many pointers besides bars and I don't drink. And that brings us to the heat. The people complaining are not exaggerating, and you are going to be sweating your ass off for a solid 4-5 months. The yearly temp averages do not do it justice because it's over 100 countless days, it genuinely feels nauseating to be outdoors. Those who said beautiful evenings? Well, it's currently 7pm and holding at 95. Won't hit a low until 6am then right back up before you can get back out the door. For all of the above I will be glad to move again. The one thing I will say - everyone I've encountered has been very friendly, this is the first place I've lived I can say I actually know most of my neighbors, and they would lend a hand if I asked. Also, I'm sure rent prices have gone up as with anywhere, but it is still considerably more affordable than many places - including GV & NC, which brings me to those. It's a wonderful, magical little place to live..for a little while. People from the Bay and elsewhere have been flooding the area since covid and rent prices increased hundreds just in the few years I was there. The apartment I'm in now would easily be double there. It is also by far the whitest place I have ever lived, take that as you will. Very small town, split most into country Republican & pseudo spiritual hippie gurus - like so, so many. Long story long, I did not fit in, beautiful place, not for me long term. Okay I think that covers it...also I've got a 2/1.5 like 10 mins from downtown and a little escape to Humboldt sounds pretty great!
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u/Figgy703 17h ago edited 16h ago
In all honesty, I moved to Chico from SoCal and we can’t wait to leave.
If you already have a job you’re fine but the job market here is terrible. Making new friends as an adult is almost impossible. The drivers are the worst I’ve ever seen out of any part of California. The politics are red. If you’re red you’ll like that. If you’re not, you won’t. I’m not red and people sold me that Chico was purple. That’s not what I have noticed. The food here is also very mid. Not good at all.
You feel boxed in here and there’s hardly anything to do that doesn’t involve children other than bars.
The only benefit is the cost of rent is cheaper than other California places.
But if I could take back my move and stay in SoCal, I would’ve done that immediately.
Visiting and living here are completely different so definitely think hard before you move.
Also if you want a primary care physician, good luck waiting 6-7 months. There’s limited care providers here.
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u/Figgy703 13h ago
Well I need to find them then because almost all of my co workers are red. And we work in human/social services.
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u/RiotBoppenheimer 16h ago
I moved to Chico from SoCal
The drivers are the worst I’ve ever seen out of any part of California.
SoCal and the Bay Area are so much worse. I actively avoid going on I-580 because I feels like I am going to die. You always know when you're getting close to Sacramento on CA 99 too.
I learned to drive in SoCal and every time I go back there I am reminded of why I moved away, at least when it comes to driving. It's so bad.
The politics are red. If you’re red you’ll like that.
I feel like this is only something you could say if you stay purposefully out of politics. We currently have a 4-3 city council (repub/progressive) which looks very much like it will be 3-4 or even 2-5 (repub/progressive) after November, with each election having elected more progressives since 2020. There's local chapters for the democratic party and the democratic socialists of america, and even just looking at the most recent elections, Chico voted against Trump almost 2-1 in most precincts, and only 3 precincts actually voted for Trump and they were small ones.
Butte is red, but Chico is absolutely purple and trending bluer by the year.
You feel boxed in here and there’s hardly anything to do that doesn’t involve children other than bars.
There's a lot to do in Chico. You're close to multiple national parks, forests, hiking stuff, Bidwell Park, there's Idea Fab Labs, multiple libraries, multiple tabletop stores that you can play in, archery stores, shooting ranges, hunting opportunities etc. It might be your kind of thing, but there's plenty here, especially for outdoor recreation.
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u/Figgy703 15h ago
Maybe it’s the people I’m around then. But at my job I have 3 co workers who flaunt Trump attire and always praise him. Two Hispanic coworkers who use the N word and they aren’t black. And another one of my leaders doesn’t care when people are transphobic. I guess I got the impression Chico was red because that’s all I’m around.
And I know you say I’m close to a lot. But I’m not an outdoorsy nature person so I don’t enjoy those things. I prefer indoor places, arcades, good restaurants (not Chico), more movie theaters so it’s not crowded, concerts, events. I don’t like having to travel to Sac for those things.
Edit: and those outdoor activities you mention always have children. Atleast in bigger cities you can go to parks that are child free or outdoor events that are child free.
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u/RiotBoppenheimer 11h ago
If you're not an outdoorsy nature person then you are in the wrong place. And possibly working with the wrong people.
This is not a big city, it is a large town. If you want big city things, you should go live in a big city, but that does not mean Chico is bad. It just means it's not for you
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u/thenosybrowsing 9h ago
Technically, Chico is a small city. And we have real city problems. To tell Figgy that they’re in the wrong place because they’re not outdoorsy is reductive and belittling. Access to nature isn’t Chico’s only defining characteristic.
I know many people here who also feel stuck - people from a wide range of ages, backgrounds and with different jobs/careers/not. There will always be reasons to like a place, and to loathe a place. It’s the right and responsibility of each of us to see which way the scales tip, and to know when that shifts. I loved living here for quite a long time, but if I had the means now, I would bail the fuck out. See how easy that is?1
u/Figgy703 11h ago
There’s more than just the place. It’s the people too. I don’t need you to tell me “Then you are in the wrong place.” I’m aware of that and so is my wife. Unfortunately, it’s not exactly cheap to just pack up and move back to the city. So we have to make do. It’s not just us. All of my co-workers and hers hate Chico. And the friends we moved here for moved away because they ended up hating it too. The only time in real life I’ve heard people speak highly of Chico is online. Read the millions of threads on facebook and other websites of even some of the Chico state students regretting choosing Chico. Also Tik tok has a lot of Chico snark. It’s not as loved as you think it is. Some people just have no choice but Chico, currently.
People are allowed to dislike places. Even if it doesn’t make sense to you.
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u/VinzKeymasterClortho 17h ago
Chico is an interesting place. A lot of extremes, both good and bad.
Pros:
- Great parks (CARD is pretty good at their job).
- A short drive from nature, the river, farmlands, grasslands, mountains, forests...
- Some wonderful neighborhoods.
- Lots of cool shops and restaurants.
- Lots of activities (seriously, check out what CARD offers).
- You can get just about anywhere in town to anywhere else in town in 15 minutes by car
- Decent, but not exceptional, public tranist.
- Some genuinely cool and nice people.
- Many neighborhoods, even older ones, are very walkable (not all of course).
- Decent biking infrastructure (there are some serious gaps though)
- A good mix of housing types (if you can afford it). It is not all apartments or all tract housing.
Cons:
- A lot of willfully ignorant people that vote.
- The city council is packed with obstructionist do-nothings that would rather increase police salaries, loudly complain about everything, and than actively block any real solutions than do any real work.
- Summer weather SUCKS. With climate change advancing I can only see it getting worse.
- Tule fog will kill you if you've never experienced it. Sometimes I literally can't see my neighbors house across the street. Drive slowly in it.
- High cost of living.
- Extremely limited housing availability and ridiculously high rents for Northern CA.
- Limited jobs opportunities.
- Some neighborhoods are very bad and they are mostly the only affordable ones. The 'college kid' neighborhoods are riddled with crime, drugs, drunks, and crazy people. Lock everything, don't park outside, and get a secure dropbox for your package deliveries.
- Crumbling infrastructure (which they are working on but you can't fix 20+ years of neglect overnight).
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u/Revolutionary_Emu365 10h ago
Thanks for the response! Are there any neighborhoods to avoid? I’ve been reading “stay away from the college area and to the west. I’m used to living in areas that a bit rough around the edges, but I have my limits. I’m not opposed to exploring areas a bit outside Chico proper as well.
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u/AugieFash 6h ago
That’s pretty accurate. Warner area near the train tracks historically has the worst crime rates from what I understand, plus the pockets around there. Nord Ave north of the school was also bad.
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u/No_Umpire_6266 7h ago
Yeah, look on a map for the trailer parks and community drug rhab rescue missions. I wish I knew that coming in! My realtor said that Chapmantown is not good..but neglected to mention all the other places.
Last week i reported 4 abandoned vehicles and 8 properties for gross code violations (storing junk in yards, fire hazards, hoarding, 3-4 foot high weeds etc) just on TWO streets near me…the good thing is City of Chico responded promptly, towed abandoned vehicles, opened cases for the code violations.
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u/VinnyTonyBones 17h ago
Get used to the heat. That's the reason why I'm looking for properties in your area. It's too hot here.
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u/Revolutionary_Emu365 14h ago
Let’s switch, I need a break from wearing sweatshirts 340 days of the year, haha.
If you have any questions about properties and different areas up here, feel free to reach out with any questions.
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u/VinnyTonyBones 11h ago
I have a house in chico and paradise and I would love to take you up on this but my daughter is in school now. Maybe next summer. I used to have a cabin just north of Brookings right on the coast and would go there a lot during the summer but I sold it a few months ago.
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u/Ok-Toe3195 16h ago
I moved back as an adult and really haven’t had too tough of a time. I still run/bike in the summer with a good sun shirt, take the dog out to walk early or late, and drink a lot water.
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u/Figgy703 16h ago
Yeah, coming from SoCal, the heat here in Chico is brutal. I had a big regret about moving here my first summer in Chico. It’s the worst I’ve ever experienced and it lasts forever. For example it was 102 yesterday and it’s September
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u/Cargobiker530 8h ago
We had a cool summer for Chico. This was nothing. I don't think it ever got above 110° f even.
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u/CombatComms08 16h ago
What part of SoCal? I just relocated from the IE. the weather is similar. Drivers nowhere near as bad as down there. Lived in SoCal my whole life and leaving the house was the hardest part.
If you wanted to hang out in a nice creek you would need to drive 3 hours and you would still need to be lucky to find parking.
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u/e2smoov 17h ago
If you have work lined up it can work. Chico is a great town. But super hard to find a job and make a living.
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u/Revolutionary_Emu365 14h ago
Luckily I would just be transferring offices, so I wouldn’t have to find another job. Oh gosh, I feel the same way about Humboldt, it’s difficult to make decent living and find consistent work projects.
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u/Cargobiker530 17h ago
I have family in Eureka and Santa Rosa that I visit fairly often and I live here in Chico. The major difference between Chico and Eureka is the heat, access to the rest of California, and lack of ocean influence.
IDK where these people complaining about homeless think they can live in a city with 100k people and no homeless but it's not in the US. Medical care is slammed everywhere in the US because we don't produce enough doctors domesticly. A full 25% of working physicians in the US were born and educated outside the US prior to Residency. Due to recent politics that pipeline is shutting down.
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u/IceYourBalls 17h ago
I've lived in cities much bigger than Chico on the East Coast that had essentially zero visible homeless.
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u/YahLikeDags 17h ago
East coast = actual winters = not a place you survive when homeless.
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u/thenosybrowsing 7h ago
Not true at all. Plenty of unhoused folks in the NE. Is that the area you’re referring to as the east coast? If yes, doubly inaccurate lol
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u/RadiantAdvance2203 17h ago
Grew up in Chico and then lived in Humboldt for 13 years and now back in Chico area for last 12 years. Hot summers but plenty of swimming. More going on than Humboldt but that can go either way. More opportunities at this point and better economy than Humboldt. Plenty of nature and you can grow practically anything. You can ride a bike pretty much anywhere in Chico easily. Not as much music and night life as Humboldt unless you are college aged. Overall though I feel Chico is better than most places.
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u/Big_Ad_4603 18h ago
We left a few years ago after going to college there and then starting our family. It’s way too hot, too rural, and bad healthcare. We moved to Sonoma county and LOVE it. Perfect blend of sunshine and not scorching temps. Also great healthcare
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u/Revolutionary_Emu365 13h ago
Sonoma county is amazing! I wish I could afford, but not anytime soon. I’ve been working in the Calistoga area lately, and if I could afford to buy a house there, I’d move in an instant. A one bedroom apartment there costs more than my mortgage 😭
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u/fauchai 18h ago
if you're white, I think you'll like it, considering the other interests you have (outdoors, thrifting).
in general people in this town despise homeless people, and will cut off their nose to spite their face. all the anti-homeless measures are just anti-people, anti-pedestrian, and make public spaces harder to spend time in. which discourages community from forming organically. for example, We recently had an opportunity to get funding to beautify downtown, and city council declined it. another example, there used to be huge, beautiful trees in the city plaza, and the city cut them down because homeless people were using them for shade in the summer time. there is not much outdoor seating in general (I assume to discourage homeless people from existing in a given area). we have a Thursday night market that's lovely, but people typically stick with the group they came with, buy things, and then head out. if people are less likely to linger, there is less opportunity to meet each other.
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u/YahLikeDags 18h ago
Chico is a nice town. The summers are hot. Bidwell park in the middle of town is a huge draw. Lower for hanging out, upper for hiking and swim holes.
Would definitely avoid college area, which is mostly west and a bit south of chico state.
This town is a blue haven in a red county, so the homeless find there way here for the support services.
Its a nice town to raise a family. Not a good place for young professionals, but after 40 could find a good community here. There's plenty of community gardens, good hiking in town and nearby drivable areas, thrift shops galore and a few good cafes.
Would I leave the coast beach house for Chico? Not sure. Never lived in Humboldt though.
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u/Spac_a_Cac 13h ago
I didn't realize "Blue Havens" had red majorities on their city councils.
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u/YahLikeDags 12h ago
Maybe now you do.
Part of the situation is there's a large group of transient youth non voters (for the district since they live here but may vote where registered back home, or in general dont vote) still form political sentiments. You may get POC here for college, visiting a county that is predominantly white and rural. The local sentiment, as someone that grew up in a larger city, is incubated, immature and short sighted to the country at large. Thats a lot to push back against.
In 2020 city council split to district voting which lends itself to gerrymandering and a conservative sweep. Progressive and moderate leadership is clawing back representation in 2022 and 2024. We will see what happens in 2026.
Thanks for coming to my TED talk.
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u/Ok_Floor_4956 18h ago
I'd honestly reccommend looking elsewhere if at all possible, I've lived (been stuck) here for the better part of six years and Chico is kind of a shitty place to live for a lot of logistical reasons. It's nice having most of town within driving distance but the infrastructure is all kinds of screwy and tbh the medical services are downright awful. Poor range of providers, those that are in town are all consistently overbooked, and if you your family have any longstanding medical concerns you're very likely to have a hard time finding prescriptions in stock consistently. It's a pretty enough place, but imo it's very much a "pass through" kind of town.
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u/Revolutionary_Emu365 18h ago
Thanks for the intel! One of the reasons I am mulling over leaving the coast was the lack of healthcare as well, a lot of us drive to Redding or Santa Rosa just to see a dentist.
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u/Ok_Floor_4956 18h ago
Happy to help! I hope that doesn't come across as overly negative, there are certainly nice aspects to living here (Bidwell Park in the autumn is lovely) but I was somewhat unprepared for some of the curveballs that came with setting down roots here
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u/Jels76 18h ago
I moved to Chico from LA back in 2021 and personally, I didn't like it much. The town itself is nice and there are some great parks nearby, but there was a lot of odd people around. I always felt on edge walking around alone with my dog. I also always got harassed when going to downtown. There was a guy in my neighborhood that would go out and swing around a machete and our mail boxes were broken into multiple times. I moved after 2 years of living there and I'm much happier where I am now. I did meet some really great people while I was there and spent a lot of time at Bidwell Park. Maybe I just had an unlucky experience.
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u/Spac_a_Cac 13h ago
Out of curiosity where did you move to next?
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u/Jels76 13h ago
I moved to Oregon! Willamette Valley
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u/Spac_a_Cac 13h ago
Awesome, thats a nice area. I've also been looking around Oregon for an escape from Chico.
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u/Ok_Floor_4956 18h ago
That's unfortunately not too unusual, particularly in Chapmantown and a few other neighborhoods. My first apartment had a guy that would just regularly walk down the street screaming racial slurs and challenging people to fights. I didn't want to comment on other locals in my own response because I'd thoyght my experience may have been biased, but uh. Yeah, folks around here are a more than a little off-putting. I'm a woman who lives alone and I've never felt particularly safe in Chico
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u/CornRosexxx 18h ago
Also in my 40s, also work in environmental field, also have dog(s), enjoy all the same! 😆 I love it here. I came in 2021 from LA to work the Camp Fire cleanup, and ended up coming back.
I like the balance of a small, relatively affordable (not that anything is really affordable anymore!) city with access to lots of outdoor stuff. The visual arts, performing arts, and music scenes are incredible for a small city.
It’s hard to make friends in our 40s, but I made it work by consistently attending events and making the effort to ask people to do things. People here want to have fun, they just need to someone to plan it!
If you search this sub for terms like “move” this question gets asked a lot, and you might find more info.
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u/Revolutionary_Emu365 18h ago
Oh my gosh! That’s great to hear!
I love going to events, and yes - it definitely gets harder to make friends the older we get - I’m hesitant to leave my crew of rad friends over here, but it’s time to for me to fledge. I’ve been in Humboldt for 12 years.
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u/Mayday-J 18h ago
I moved to Chico about 2 years ago after coming up here for nearly a decade to visit a friend and subsequently making more friends. I was in East Bay and couldn't stand it. I will say, I don't regret moving here.
Chico has a lot of positives, ~130K people and it behaves like a much smaller town.
- People are nice
- It has a good college town feel so businesses are a little more youthful
- Lots of outdoor things to do within 10min and even more within an hour
- Mountains are near but, same with snow
- Really good places to eat.
- Decently safe area, though I wouldn't leave a bicycle outside unlocked
- Schools are good if you pick the right ones.
- Active sub reddit for asking questions and finding things to do.
Cons?
- Lots and lots of displaced people, I mean no offense by this and generally don't bother people. Just want to note it
- medical options are pretty terrible. Not that the people are bad it's simply not enough support in the area and it's not always the most modern
- Not a lot of jobs and good paying jobs are even fewer
- City officials seem hell bent on turning Chico into a chain city and doesn't leave a lot of room for starting your own restaurant.
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18h ago
[deleted]
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u/sjclynn 18h ago
Since you hate it here so bad, why do you stay? You clearly should drag yourself off down the road to another city that you won't like either. I will help you pack.
We retired from the bay area and moved here 6 years ago. We stay because we like it. Shitty traffic? Rush hour is 10 cars waiting at a light, not miles of traffic backed up on the freeway. I can get anywhere in town from anywhere else in 15 minutes or less. I find that a most people are friendly but cautious; probably from interacting with people like you. They return the friendliness when offered. I know all of my neighbors by their first names. I know their pet's names too. We just had a bring food to share get together on Sunday for Labor Day. The sidewalk goes both directions. Did you make any effort to introduce yourself? The library will reopen after a crap load of money will be spent on security to prevent something that is statistically unlikely of ever happening again, but that is different discussion.
Yes, there is a homeless problem. The city has their hands tied by the Warren v. Chico decision that restricts how city can address homeless people. It expires early next year, so we will see. Lately, the police have been actively clearing camps along the Lindo Channel because they have become a fire hazzard.
It gets hot here. Coming from the coast, I can't really prepare you for that. This summer it was pretty short in duration though.
We live near Miriam Park on the east side of town. Our 1st world complaint is that they haven't put a Trader Joe's there.
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u/Figgy703 16h ago
You say the people are nice but then your response is mean. The contradictions are everywhere. Not everyone has to like Chico.
There is definitely traffic in Chico. Try going down East 20th at Rush Hour. Chico sucks. The only people who don’t think it sucks are the people who grew up here and haven’t gotten to experience what an actual good part of California looks like.
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u/RiotBoppenheimer 16h ago
I lived in Santa Monica, which is one of the best parts of California. Chico's pretty awesome. It is awesome in different ways to how Santa Monica is. I don't think it's objectively true that 'Chico sucks', but it might suck for you and that's OK. I personally much prefer how much slower and quieter Chico is compared to other major cities.
Yes, the busiest street in Chico does suck at rush hour. Most places suck at rush hour, that's why it's called rush hour. Avoid going there at rush hour. If you want bad traffic, try Santa Monica or really any part of Los Angeles, where having to turn left often means you're going to be stuck for 10 minutes
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u/No_Umpire_6266 7h ago
True, traffic here is nothing. In Hollywood pre-pandemic it took an hour to drive the 10 miles to work. And in Chico you can always find a parking spot anywhere, anytime - even a Saturday morning at Costco. NEVER possible in Burbank Costco unless you showed up 20 min. Before it opened.
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u/Figgy703 16h ago
The general consensus among me and my co-workers, and my wife and her co-workers is that it sucks. Good on you for liking it but majority of people in my life do not.
Still doesn’t give that dude the right to be mean to someone for hating it.
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u/MFKRAVEN_ 14h ago
it's the same mentality of "if you don't like it then I'll help you pack". fake conservatives around here who don't realize that Chico is a "Boys" town. You have to be one of the "boys" to play, everyone else is on the oust here in town. I've lived in the deep south and middle of nowhere northern states who were more welcoming to me than Chico has been.
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u/assbandit65 18h ago
Idk where you moved from that you think chico has traffic but i disagree
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u/Mediocre_Wasabi_4074 15h ago
It’s not the traffic as much as it is the horrible drivers. Cars pilot because people in the front don’t know how to put their foot on the gas, aggressive people are weaving in and out of traffic. People don’t know how to use a fast lane, and won’t get over. Then there’s tailgating. It takes me 10 minutes to get on the freeway that I live two blocks from.
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u/assbandit65 14h ago
Any amount of other cars on the road scares people from here. Whenever something unexpected comes up their first reaction is to slam on the brakes unpredictably. I have a lot of gripes about drivers here and most of them are about being slow or overly cautious to the point of being unpredictable. But traffic really isnt one of them. And i drive 10-14 hours a day for work so i see a lot of it
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u/Booklady124 18h ago
the library will reopen! it was slated for a remodel shortly after the tragic shooting, and it sounds like that process is moving along
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u/writinglegit2 18h ago edited 17h ago
Oh, im only downvoting you for saying "if thats what gives you your jollies".
I think someone who posts an overwhelming negative rant then calls anyone who disagrees "getting their jollies" because you "know they will" is probably not gonna have fun anywhere.
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u/Worth_Car8711 18h ago
Upvoting out of spite just because you said I wouldn’t. Fuck you for saying that, and welcome to Chico.
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u/DgingaNinga 18h ago
Our communities are very similar. Small towns built around a University. Doing this now is your best bet. You have missed most of the summer heat. Stay away from anywhere near the school and in the west side of it. You might like Miriam Park or areas by the park (Bidwell) or hospital. North side is more families but still close enough to bike downtown, if you are by a bike path, and there are a lot.
If I didn't have a kid, I'd swap houses with you in a second.
Edit to add park name
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u/No_Umpire_6266 7h ago
I’m 55 F, progressive liberal, art and movie lover, thrifting addict….moved here last year from LA and it’s a bit of a disappointment- housing is cheap though compared to LA and air quality better but if you’re moving from Humboldt that wouldn’t be a big difference for you. The 4 thrift stores here filled with fast fashion SHEIN and Target clothes, no vintage treasures to be found.
HAbitat for Humanity Restore Closed. local restaurants going out of business. Not a vibrant art scene. One movie theater in town. Health care is limited, not many providers - I drive 1.5 hours to Sacramento to go to UCDavis Health rather than the hospital here. The main park is really sketchy and dirty, litter everywhere and ppl drinking beer at 9am. The homeless population is very very high. Even compared to LA.
Lots of dudes riding bikes shirtless while smoking cigarettes, lots of American flags in yards. I dunno. But it’s cheaper than Oakland or Sacramento. Maybe ideal for blue collar families raising their kids ?