California State University, Chico

Chico, CA

Background Image

California State University, Chico - Chico, CA Area Guide

An academic landmark of the Sacramento Valley

Public Urban Walkable Bike-Friendly Parks Nature Outdoors Entertainment Dining Shopping Nightlife Wildcats

California State University, Chico is consistently recognized as one of the top public universities in the region, providing exceptional academic and research opportunities since 1889. The historic campus serves as a cultural and intellectual hub for north-central California, and a major focal point for the city of Chico. Chico State occupies a quiet, somewhat rural pocket of the state, about ninety minutes from Sacramento. The campus sits adjacent to Downtown Chico, putting you within easy walking distance of the numerous unique restaurants, bars, coffeehouses, and theaters around the city center. You’ll also enjoy easy access to the parks along Big Chico Creek, with trails leading all the away into the sprawling Upper Bidwell Park in the nearby foothills. The neighborhoods surrounding Chico State are full of apartments and houses within a short walk of the main campus, but living downtown will put you closest to most of the major campus buildings.

Rent Trends

As of February 2026, the average apartment rent in Chico, CA is $933 for a studio, $1,235 for one bedroom, $1,456 for two bedrooms, and $1,738 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Chico has increased by 1.8% in the past year.

  • Studio

  • 379 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $933/month

    Average Rent

  • 1 BR

  • 625 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $1,235/month

    Average Rent

  • 2 BR

  • 912 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $1,456/month

    Average Rent

  • 3 BR

  • 1,128 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $1,738/month

    Average Rent

Transportation

61

Somewhat Walkable

out of 100 WalkScore® Rating

You might be able to get out and walk when living in this area. Some errands can be accomplished on foot, but for others you’ll need a car.

73

Very Bikeable

out of 100 BikeScore® Rating

This area is very bikeable. You’ll find a variety of bike paths and lanes.

Schools

Parkview Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

406 Students

Emma Wilson Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

597 Students

Marigold Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

571 Students

Neal Dow Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

364 Students

Sierra View Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

428 Students

Marsh (Harry M.) Junior High

Public

Grades 6-8

716 Students

Bidwell Junior High

Public

Grades 6-8

1,012 Students

Chico Junior High

Public

Grades 6-8

861 Students

Butte County Community School - Lead

Public

Grades K-12

20 Students

Loma Vista School

Public

Grades K-12

12 Students

Pleasant Valley High

Public

Grades 9-12

1,978 Students

Chico High

Public

Grades 9-12

1,804 Students

Butte County Community School - Lead

Public

Grades K-12

20 Students

Loma Vista School

Public

Grades K-12

12 Students

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • Gateway Science Museum
  • Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park
  • Chico Creek Nature Center
  • Bidwell Park
  • Bidwell-Sacramento River State Park

Commuter Rail

Military Bases

Top Apartments Near California State University, Chico

Houses Near California State University, Chico

Property Management Companies

Search Nearby Rentals

Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.