Violent
Property
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Chico, CA has a Safety Score of 26/100 — higher crime than 74% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,599.4 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,185 of 2,971 US cities and #183 of 264 in California.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Chico, California Safe?
Chico, home to California State University, Chico, is a city in the Sacramento Valley. It boasts Bidwell Park, one of the largest municipal parks in the United States. The city's population is around 100,000.
Chico has a safety score of 26/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,599.4 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Chico ranks #183 out of 264 cities in California and #2185 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 26th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 74% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Chico is rape, at 137.9 per 100K — 3.2x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.3x the national rate.
Year over year, Chico's total crime rate increased by 6.6%, with violent crime rising 13.6%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Chico Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 707 | 701.2 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 2 | 2.0 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 139 | 137.9 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 83 | 82.3 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 481 | 477.0 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 1,914 | 1,898.2 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 210 | 208.3 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 1,499 | 1,486.7 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 205 | 203.3 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Chico vs California Average
How does Chico's crime rate compare to the California state average?
| Metric | Chico | California Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 701.2 | 518.0 | +35.4% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,898.2 | 2,161.3 | -12.2% |
| Murder Rate | 2.0 | 4.4 | -55.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,599.4 | 2,679.3 | -3.0% |
Chico Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Chico, California.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 100,831 | 2,599.4 | 701.2 | 1,898.2 |
| 2023 | 100,896 | 2,438.2 | 617.5 | 1,820.7 |
| 2022 | 102,499 | 2,236.1 | 574.6 | 1,661.5 |
| 2020 | 105,355 | 2,518.2 | 512.6 | 2,005.6 |
| 2019 | 95,826 | 3,092.1 | 581.3 | 2,510.8 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chico, California safe?
Chico has a safety score of 26/100, meaning it has less crime than about 26% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 2,599.4 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Chico is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Chico, California?
According to FBI data for 2024, Chico has a violent crime rate of 701.2 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,898.2 per 100,000 residents.
How does Chico compare to the national average?
Chico's total crime rate of 2,599.4 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 100,831 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Chico?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Chico include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Chico safe to visit?
Like any city, Chico has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 26/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.