Bidwell Mansion · Photo: Frank Schulenburg · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Chico as a whole is healthier than 69% of U.S. towns
Chico differs from California on 14 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 6 better, 8 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Chico. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Chico
Chico is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Chico is healthier than 69%. Against the 10,193 towns with similar household incomes ($50K–$84K), it’s healthier than 88%. Health Grade ↓
Depression is more common in Chico
1 in 4 adults have been diagnosed with depression (26.6%), vs 20.1% across California. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 19.9%, vs 16.4% across California. Mind & connection ↓
Binge drinking is the habit Chico doesn’t win on
18.9% of adults binge drink, vs 15.3% across California, even though more of them exercise. Habits ↓
Chico is an active town
Only 20.9% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 24.6% across California. The town has 92 miles of trails across 22 parks and preserves. Habits ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the California figure falls outside Chico’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A−.
What’s behind Chico’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Chico is healthier than 69% of U.S. towns, #355 of 847 in California. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 92% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 10%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Chico’s median household income is $66,977; among the 10,193 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($50K–$84K), it’s healthier than 88%, more than its income alone would suggest.
At 105,081 residents, Chico is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
How Chico adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Chico runs above California.
1 in 3 Chico adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Everyday habits, side by side with California
Share of adults, with the California figure marked.
92 miles of trails across 22 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Chico adults…
Chico runs below CA on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 4. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Chico
1 hospital and 2 community health centers in Chico, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Chico; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Keeping up with care
Share of Chico adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
17% of Chico adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Chico and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chico | B+ | 28.6% | 8.9% | 11.8% | CDC place |
| Durham | B+ | 29.5% | 11.3% | 12.3% | CDC place |
| Butte Creek Canyon | — | — | — | — |
Butte Creek Canyon: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Chico adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Chico
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Chico is better than California on 6 and worse on 8; on the rest, the California figure falls inside Chico’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Chico | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19.9%17.7–22.3 | 22.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13%11.6–14.5 | 13.4% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.9%17.9–22.1 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 28.6%22.7–34.9 | 27.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 8.9%7.8–10.2 | 11.7% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 28.8%25.5–32.2 | 30.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 31.4%27.8–35 | 35.4% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 21%18.6–23.5 | 20.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.7%9.5–11.9 | 9.3% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.3%6.6–7.9 | 6.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.4%4.9–5.9 | 5.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 5.8%5.2–6.4 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 2.9%2.7–3.2 | 3.1% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 10.4%8.4–12.6 | 10.6% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.8%10.3–13.4 | 10.9% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 20.9%17.7–24.4 | 24.6% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 18.9%15.7–22.3 | 15.3% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.8%27–38.8 | 35.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8%6.9–9.1 | 10.6% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 71%66.9–74.8 | 71.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 61.3%57.8–64.7 | 62.8% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 81.5%79.4–83.4 | 85.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 67.9%64.9–70.6 | 71.3% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.8%58.8–68.5 | 57.5% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.3%67.8–81.8 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26.6%23–30.3 | 20.1% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 35.4%30.6–40.4 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24%20.8–27.5 | 28.6% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 16.5%14.5–18.6 | 17.9% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.4%11.8–15.2 | 14.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8%7–9 | 7.3% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.2%9.2–11.3 | 9.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 17%15.1–19 | 15.6% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31.2%27.5–35 | 30.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.4%10.9–13.9 | 13.8% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.8%15.2–18.6 | 14.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6%5.4–6.7 | 5.9% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.3%4.8–5.7 | 5.6% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.3%8.4–10.3 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.6%3.4–3.9 | 3.9% | 3.8% | About the same |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the California figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Chico
Is Chico a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Chico is healthier than 69% of U.S. towns: B+ for health, #355 of 847 in California. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 88%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Chico?
CDC estimates 28.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 22.7% and 34.9%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Chico?
Enloe Health in Chico, 2.0 miles in a straight line from Chico’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Chico have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.9–9.1%), against 10.6% across California.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Chico more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Chico.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The California figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.