Hignell Rentals Blog

Are Chico Rental Properties Best in the North, South, East, or West?

Written by Hignell Rentals Team | February 3, 2023

Deciding which part of town to live in is an important decision. There are many personal factors that come into play. If you're aware of these ahead of time it will help narrow down which Chico rental properties to consider moving into.

First, answer the following questions:

  • Do you want to be near a shopping center?
  • Do you want to be near public transportation?
  • Do you want to be close to the park?
  • Do you want to be near Chico State?
  • Do you want to be away from “college” town?
  • Do you want to live in an established residential area?
  • Would it be nice to have easy access to the freeway?
  • Is it important to be close to your child’s school?
  • Are you hoping to ride your bike to work?
  • How much can you afford to pay in rent each month?

By answering yes or no to the questions above, you’ll have a good idea of where to start looking.

The North Side of Town

You might be interested in Chico rental properties on the North side of town if you want to be near a park, near a school or have access to public transportation.

The North side of Chico has a higher density of rental properties, but they're spread out among residential neighborhoods. Bus stops are easy to find, DeGarmo Park isn’t far, and the schools you’ll find are Shasta Elementary, McManus Elementary, Marigold Elementary, Bidwell Junior High School, and Pleasant Valley High School.

You also have easy access to HWY 99 which allows you to get anywhere in Chico within 15 minutes or less.

The South Side of Town

If you like to shop and eat then Chico rental properties on the South side of town might be the place for you. If you live in south Chico you’ll be near the Chico Marketplace Mall and a couple of shopping centers where you’ll find places like Starbucks, Target, Walmart, Old Navy, and Best Buy.

You’ll also have easy access to HWY 99, and find chain restaurants such as Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Logan’s, In-n-Out, and Chili's.

Winco and Raley’s grocery stores are also nearby. If you have kids they could walk to school if they went to Little Chico Creek Elementary, Parkview Elementary, or Marsh Junior High.

The East Side of Town

If you live in East Chico you’ll find more established residential areas and easy access to both Lower Bidwell Park and Upper Bidwell Park. If you’re an outdoorsy kind of person then being near the park offers some great recreation for you like hiking, biking, horseback riding, walking, running, and just getting outside to enjoy nature.

The good thing about Chico is that it still has that small town feel and doesn’t encompass miles of area, so even if you live in East Chico, the perks of South Chico really aren’t too far away.

The West Side of Town

Many people living in Chico know the west side as college town, simply because Chico rental properties in this area are predominately inhabited by students attending Chico State. If you’re a college student or work at the University, or just want to be near Downtown Chico, then living on the west of town would be great.

These rental properties may tend to be a little less expensive than other areas of town and may not be in pristine condition because they have a higher turnover rate due to the college students coming and going.

That being said, living on the west side will give you access to shopping centers with grocery stores, quickie marts, Laundromats, take-out restaurants and coffee shops. You’ll also be near Downtown where you can attend Farmer’s Market, do some local shopping, eat at local restaurants, and easily attend Downtown events year round.

There are great Chico rental properties all over town. It just depends on which area fits your lifestyle best. Wherever you decide to live, Chico still has that small town feel that you’ll find makes living anywhere in Chico feel like home.

Want a Virtual Tour of Chico Rental Properties?

If you want to get an idea of what Chico rental properties are available you've come to the right place. Check out the Hignell Rentals Chico apartment search and view photos, videos and more information that can help you find the perfect apartment for your needs. 

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