How long is the commute from Chico, CA?

Name: Commute and cars in Chico, CA, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Workers who live in Chico, CA take an average of 17.8 minutes to get to work (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

68.6% of workers drive alone to work.

0.9% take public transportation.

3.7% of workers walk to work.

13.5% work from home.

7.1% of households have no vehicle.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Average commute: 17.8 minutes (±0.8)
Public transportation: 0.9%
Work from home: 13.5%
Households without a car: 7.1%

How people in Chico get to work

Workers 16 and over by means of transportation to work, 2020–2024
Means of transportation	Chico	Butte County	California	United States
Drove alone	68.6% (±1.9 points)	71.9%	65.7%	68.8%
Carpooled	9.9% (±1.3 points)	9.4%	9.5%	8.5%
Public transportation	0.9% (±0.3 points)	0.6%	2.9%	3.2%
Walked	3.7% (±0.7 points)	2.9%	2.4%	2.4%
Other means (bicycle, taxi, motorcycle)	3.5% (±0.9 points)	2.7%	2.4%	2.0%
Worked from home	13.5% (±1.2 points)	12.6%	17.2%	15.1%

In Chico, the average commute is lower than in Butte County (21.0 minutes).

It is also lower than in California (28.7 minutes).

It is lower than the national figure (26.4 minutes).

In Chico, the share commuting by public transportation is not measurably different from Butte County (0.6%).

It is also lower than in California (2.9%).

It is lower than the national figure (3.2%).

In Butte County, Chico ranks 14 of 14 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest average commute.

Statewide, it ranks 1010 of 1,076.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Cars per household in Chico

Occupied housing units by vehicles available, 2020–2024
Vehicles available	Chico	Butte County	California	United States
No vehicle	7.1% (±1.0 points)	6.0%	7.1%	8.4%
1 vehicle	35.2% (±2.1 points)	31.1%	30.7%	33.1%
2 vehicles	37.2% (±2.1 points)	37.2%	36.3%	36.6%
3 or more vehicles	20.5% (±1.8 points)	25.6%	25.8%	21.9%

In Chico, the share of households without a vehicle is not measurably different from Butte County (6.0%).

It is not measurably different from California (7.1%).

It is lower than the national figure (8.4%).

Working from home and internet access in Chico

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	Chico	Butte County	California	United States
Workers working from home	13.5% (±1.2 points)	12.6% (±0.9 points)	17.2% (±0.1 points)	15.1%
Households with a computer	96.8% (±0.8 points)	96.1% (±0.5 points)	96.9% (±0.1 points)	95.5%
Households with broadband internet	93.6% (±1.0 points)	91.8% (±0.8 points)	93.5% (±0.1 points)	91.0%

In Chico, the share of households with a broadband subscription is higher than in Butte County (91.8%).

It is not measurably different from California (93.5%).

It is higher than the national figure (91.0%).

Average commute in places near Chico

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Chico
Place	Distance	Average commute	Compared with this place
Chico	—	17.8 minutes (±0.8)	—
Durham	9.1 mi	18.1 minutes (±3.4)	Not measurably different
Hamilton City	10 mi	25.1 minutes (±5.3)	Higher
Butte Valley	11 mi	29.1 minutes (±5.7)	Higher
Paradise	11 mi	24.3 minutes (±4.4)	Higher
Magalia	12 mi	37.3 minutes (±4.7)	Higher
Forest Ranch	12 mi	23.5 minutes (±4.2)	Higher
Orland	20 mi	20.4 minutes (±2.4)	Higher
Thermalito	21 mi	24.3 minutes (±5.6)	Higher

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Hamilton City, CA (25.1 minutes), Butte Valley, CA (29.1 minutes), Paradise, CA (24.3 minutes).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Average commute across Butte County, place by place

Rank	Place	Average commute
7 (tie)	Thermalito	24.3 minutes (±5.6)
9	Biggs	24.2 minutes (±4.4)
10	Forest Ranch	23.5 minutes (±4.2)
11	South Oroville	23.2 minutes (±3.8)
12	Oroville	19.9 minutes (±2.1)
13	Durham	18.1 minutes (±3.4)
14	Chico	17.8 minutes (±0.8)

Showing 7 of 14 places in Butte County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Chico

How long is the average commute in Chico?

Workers who live in Chico, CA take an average of 17.8 minutes each way (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Can you live in Chico without a car?

7.1% of households in Chico have no vehicle, and 0.9% of workers commute by public transportation.

How many people work from home in Chico?

13.5% (±1.2 points) of workers who live in Chico worked from home, and 93.6% of households have a broadband subscription.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) for Chico city, California (place:13014, in state:06).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP03_0018E, DP03_0018M, DP03_0025E, DP03_0025M, DP03_0019PE, DP03_0019PM, DP03_0020PE, DP03_0020PM, DP03_0021PE, DP03_0021PM, DP03_0022PE, DP03_0022PM, DP03_0023PE, DP03_0023PM, DP03_0024PE, DP03_0024PM, DP04_0058PE, DP04_0058PM, DP04_0059PE, DP04_0059PM, DP04_0060PE, DP04_0060PM, DP04_0061PE, DP04_0061PM, DP02_0153PE, DP02_0153PM, DP02_0154PE, DP02_0154PM

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.