Butte County · Chico · population 9,114
Where Paradise stands
27% off 5-year peak. home values down 3.6% in the last year. population growing 17.6% per year.
Home value trajectory · last 10 years
Zillow ZHVI · monthlyLifestyle scores
Scores are heuristic estimates from population density, state, and known transit/walkable cities. Not based on a paid Walk Score / Transit Score API — see methodology for the formula.
Rent trajectory · last 5 years
Zillow ZORI · monthlyHome value vs rent · indexed to 100
Both rebased at first month of ZORI data (~2015)Rent vs buy
At a 17.0 price-to-rent ratio, Paradise is in the 'depends on horizon' zone. Buy if you'll be there 5+ years and value flexibility on the home; rent if you might move, want zero maintenance friction, or expect rates to drop.
How the momentum score breaks down
methodology →Paradise has held up across the cycle: home values at $335,197 with -6.1% 5-year CAGR. The bull case is structural — population, location, employer base — and holds even if next year's print is soft.
Paradise has given back 27% from its 5-year peak — that's not a healthy correction, it's a market still digesting an overshoot. The bear case is that the floor hasn't been found yet.
About Paradise
Paradise is a city in Butte County, California, with an estimated population of 9,114. It anchors the Chico metro area. The population has grown 17.6% per year on average between 2020 and 2024 — among the faster-growing communities in the state. The median home value in Paradise is $335,197 as of 2026-04, down 3.6% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged -6.1% annual growth, and the market currently sits about 27% below its 5-year peak. Rents in Paradise average $1,646 per month, roughly flat year-over-year (+1.9%). The composite momentum score is 35 of 100 (Cooling). Buyers may find more room to negotiate; sellers should price realistically.
▲ Bull case
▼ Bear case
Playbook
You have leverage. Negotiate price, ask for closing-cost credits, and don't waive inspection. Walk-away power is real in a Cooling market — use it. Paradise is currently 27% off its 5-year peak — historically, that's been the discount tier of this market.
Price aggressively (at or below recent sold comps) or be prepared to wait. Concessions — rate buydowns, closing costs, repair credits — are how deals close right now.
Cap rates are more attractive than they were 12 months ago but the appreciation tailwind is gone. Confirm tenant demand, vacancy rates, and exit liquidity before committing capital.
Local safety & alerts
No active National Weather Service alerts for Butte County right now.
Public-safety links are official .gov sources, not curated by us. Butte County routes NWS alerts; check the state EM portal for non-weather emergencies.
Cities like Paradise
Run the numbers for Paradise
Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.
Climate & natural-disaster risk
State-level averages from NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020) and FEMA National Risk Index. City-level conditions can vary significantly within a state.
Current weather
Find rentals & listings
Open current Paradise listings on the major real-estate sites.
Links open the live search on the destination site — results are always current.
Local sports teams
Major professional teams the Chico area cheers for. Detailed stats, schedules, and player pages on intherafters.com.
Local economy & environment
Humidity is annual average relative humidity (NOAA). Income is Census ACS 5-year estimate. Industries are largest employment sectors statewide (BLS); the local mix in a given city may vary.
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