The Town FilesChico, Texas
City in Wise County · population 946 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $170,300
- Household income
- $75,739
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 96°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 32.2
Chico is a city of 946 people in Wise County, Texas. The median home is worth $170,300, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks better for a vacation home than 92% of Texas towns, quieter than 89% of Texas towns, better for first-time buyers than 86% of Texas towns.
How Chico ranks
Percentile among Texas towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Texas towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Chico is worth $170,300, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $75,739, which is more affordable than 75% of Texas towns. Median rent is $1,317 a month. 66.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Chico | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $170,300 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $1,317 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $75,739 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 66.9% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Chico
| People | Chico | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.2 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.4% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 28.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.0% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.5% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 6.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.6% | — |
| Work from home | 8.0% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 26.5 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.1% | 89.2% |
Weather in Chico
July highs average 95.6°F and January lows 30.9°F. About 33.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.8 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 101 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 61 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chico since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 12, 1965 about 1.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 4 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 19, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 99 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on March 22, 1991.
Severe weather in Wise County since 1996
Wise County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 19, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4586: Severe Winter Storms |
| February 14, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3554: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4485: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3458: Covid-19 |
| May 29, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4223: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Wise County
Wise County had 21,209 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,376 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Chico itself the ACS puts it at 14.7%.
Public schools in Chico
3 public schools with 558 students, about 13.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHICO EL | PK-5 | 278 | 15.4 |
| CHICO H S | 9-12 | 144 | 9.0 |
| CHICO MIDDLE | 6-8 | 136 | 15.1 |
Towns near Chico
- Bridgeport, TX6.1 mi · 5,923 people · home $253,500
- Alvord, TX7.3 mi · 1,351 people · home $212,500
- Runaway Bay, TX9.4 mi · 1,546 people · home $307,600
- Sunset, TX10.6 mi · 543 people · home $224,600
- Decatur, TX13.2 mi · 6,538 people · home $284,500
- Bowie, TX18.2 mi · 5,448 people · home $174,300
- Boyd, TX20.0 mi · 1,416 people · home $264,900
- Jacksboro, TX21.4 mi · 4,184 people · home $259,700
Chico questions
Is Chico, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Chico scores better for retirees than 69% of Texas towns and quieter than 89%. 12.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.2).
How much does a house cost in Chico?
The median owner-occupied home in Chico is valued at $170,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $75,739, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $1,317 a month.
What is the weather like in Chico?
July highs average 95.6°F and January lows 30.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.3 inches of precipitation a year and 1.8 inches of snow.
Does Chico get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chico since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 12, 1965. The typical Texas town has had 21.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)