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The 12 Best Overall Student Apartments Near Chico State (September 2026)

California State University - Chico·Chico, CA·Updated Monthly

By the FMP Data Team · Reviewed September 1, 2026

56 properties reviewed
249+ reviews analyzed
updated September 2026
independent·no pay-to-rank
the short answer

Wildcat Crossing leads our September 2026 ranking of the 12 Best Overall student apartments near Chico State with a 4.3/5 FMP Score, followed by FM Esatwood cuort and Gateway Apartments. Across the 56 properties reviewed, students keep coming back to amenities & shared spaces and management & maintenance: the overall signals that move a property up this ranking. Browse all off-campus housing near California State University - Chico for every option.

  • winnerWildcat Crossing
  • FMP Score range4.3 / 5
  • avg walk33 min to campus
  • rent range$500–$99999 /person
the ranking

The 12 Best Overall Student Apartments Near Chico State

Sorted by FMP Score from verified Chico State reviews, high to low. Scores reflect current Chico State reviews only.

  1. Wildcat Crossing
    4.3(20 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: Wildcat Crossing stands out as the top overall choice near Chico State because it nails the fundamentals: walkability, safety, and genuine community feel. Students rave about the pet-friendly dog park, the fun clubhouse, and the fact that everything is within walking distance plus management actually listens when residents bring concerns. As one happy two-year resident put it, "I love that I can get around so easily. There's a dog park and I love that it's pet friendly!!!" The gated community and transparent pricing keep things straightforward, even if rent creep is a real concern.

    17 min walk to Chico State$655/person/moSafeGreat locationGood maintenanceCaring management
  1. FM Esatwood cuort
    3.8(15 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: FM Eastwood Court earns its rank as a solid overall option with a great location and solid maintenance that keeps the property in good shape. The community has a fun, social vibe that appeals to students who want an active scene, and management is responsive when you need them. While the reviews are brief, the tags tell the story: this place delivers on location and upkeep, making it a reliable choice for students who want both comfort and community.

    70 min walk to Chico State$500/person/moGood maintenanceGreat location10/10 would recommendGood roommate matching
  2. Gateway Apartments
    3.4(13 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: Gateway Apartments offers real value for students who prioritize spacious, clean living and caring staff but you need to go in with eyes open about the trade-offs. The units themselves are solid with good storage and layout, and the management team genuinely cares about residents' experience. However, as one frustrated resident noted, "Super slimey and will change rent prices without an explicit reminder," and parking enforcement and maintenance can be inconsistent. Pick your roommates wisely and you'll find a home; go in blind and you might hit some rough patches.

    13 min walk to Chico State$635/person/moCaring managementGreat locationBad maintenanceGood maintenance
  3. Pomona West Student Apartments
    5.0(5 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: Pomona West Student Apartments stands out for its exceptional management team and genuine commitment to making residents feel at home. Roberto, the leasing manager, and the broader staff go above and beyond they host holiday events, match roommates thoughtfully, and actually respond quickly when issues come up. The apartments are clean, spacious, and comfortable, with affordable parking and a quiet neighborhood that's still close enough to campus. As one resident summed it up, "The management team has been awesome too. They're easy to talk to, quick to help when something comes up, and you can tell they actually care about the people living here."

    22 min walk to Chico State$710/person/mo
  4. The Timbers IV Group
    5.0(5 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: The Timbers IV Group stands out for creating a leasing experience that feels genuinely personal and welcoming from day one. Students and families consistently praise the staff's warmth and attentiveness, especially the exceptional care shown during the move-in process and whenever issues arise. The team goes beyond standard service as one resident shared, "Cassandra always takes such good care of me and goes out of her way to help with anything I need." Residents describe the community itself as safe and peaceful, with a leasing office that makes everyone feel supported. It's the kind of place where you feel looked after, not just processed.

    13 min walk to Chico State
  5. Timber Creek Apartments
    5.0(5 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: Timber Creek Apartments earns its ranking by combining responsive, genuinely kind staff with practical perks that matter to students. The leasing team handles everything from roommate matching to international student transitions with patience and efficiency, while the complex itself offers gated security, free parking, and a dog park that residents love. Beyond the amenities, there's a real sense of community as one long-term resident put it, "The maintenance staff are soooo nice and always bring good vibes around the complex." The staff keeps coffee on hand and makes time to chat, turning a rental into a place where you actually feel cared for.

    17 min walk to Chico State$575/person/mo
  6. Westpark Plaza
    5.0(5 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: Westpark Plaza has earned its reputation as a top choice by delivering consistent, genuine care across management, maintenance, and community. Students praise the staff's helpfulness and the complex's reliable upkeep, with maintenance responding quickly even to late-night emergencies. The community feels intentional they host end-of-semester events and create an environment where international students and long-term residents alike feel genuinely at home. As one four-year resident noted, "The maintenance team is quick to reply I once called them at 3am and even then, they were quick to address the issue." It's the kind of place people stay for years because they actually want to.

    26 min walk to Chico State$1020/person/mo
  7. Avery Oaks Apartments
    5.0(5 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: Avery Oaks Apartments stands out for offering brand-new, thoughtfully designed spaces in a convenient location at an affordable price point. The units feature modern appliances and finishes that make the living experience feel fresh and well-maintained, and the management team handles issues promptly and professionally. Students appreciate both the physical quality of the apartments and the responsive ownership as one resident put it, "Everything was brand new, owners were professional and helpful, and affordable pricing for what was offered." It's a solid choice for students who want a newer complex without the premium price tag.

    60 min walk to Chico State$1500/person/mo
  8. Eastwood Court Apartments
    4.6(5 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: Eastwood Court Apartments stands out for its genuinely invested management team that treats residents like family. Monica, Brandon, and Victor consistently go above and beyond whether it's fast repairs, thoughtful problem-solving, or just showing they care. Students and long-term residents alike praise the quiet, spacious layout and the park-like grounds with a pool, creating a peaceful escape from campus life. As one resident who's stayed 12 years put it, "Very friendly safe neighborhood, super quiet, spacious apartments." When your handyman brings you beef jerky, you know you're somewhere special.

    75 min walk to Chico State$1175/person/mo
  9. Lassen Hall
    4.6(5 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: Lassen Hall offers that authentic dorm-life energy where students bond over shared spaces and quirky moments. While the building needs some TLC musty rooms and aging furniture residents appreciate the social atmosphere and the fact that it feels like a real college home. The main gripes center on maintenance and layout rather than community, and as one resident noted with humor, "Fun, bugs in the second floor shower but they chill." It's the kind of place where you'll make friends quickly, even if the facilities could use some love.

    7 min walk to Chico State
  10. Humboldt Park
    4.4(5 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: Humboldt Park has quietly become a gem for students seeking a peaceful outdoor retreat near campus. Recently cleaned up and restored, it offers wide open green space perfect for dog walks, meditation, or just decompressing between classes. The standout feature is the striking giant wind chime that catches everyone's attention, and the natural beauty draws wildlife like the resident hawk. As one visitor shared, "Clean spacious Park, great for dog walks," and it's the kind of spot where you can actually find quiet in a busy college town.

    55 min walk to Chico State$1150/person/mo
  11. Burnap Gardens Apartments
    4.2(5 reviews)FMP Score

    why it ranked: Burnap Gardens Apartments delivers spacious, well-appointed units with in-unit washer/dryer and generous storage the kind of comfort that makes student life feel genuinely livable. The community is quiet and friendly, with a manager in Debbie who many residents say goes out of her way to help. Students consistently praise the thoughtful layout, beautiful grounds, and the overall value for the price point. As one resident put it, "I absolutely loved living here. So quiet and safe. Debbie is the best." It's a place where you can actually relax between study sessions.

    18 min walk to Chico State$1195/person/mo

The Full Ranking, One Table

Click any column to sort. The rank stays with the property.
The full ranking of every listed apartment, sortable by any column.
1Wildcat Crossing4.3/52017 min$655/mo
2FM Esatwood cuort3.8/51570 min$500/mo
3Gateway Apartments3.4/51313 min$635/mo
4Pomona West Student Apartments5.0/5522 min$710/mo
5The Timbers IV Group5.0/5513 min
6Timber Creek Apartments5.0/5517 min$575/mo
7Westpark Plaza5.0/5526 min$1020/mo
8Avery Oaks Apartments5.0/5560 min$1500/mo
9Eastwood Court Apartments4.6/5575 min$1175/mo
10Lassen Hall4.6/557 min
11Humboldt Park4.4/5555 min$1150/mo
12Burnap Gardens Apartments4.2/5518 min$1195/mo

Walk times are door-to-door to Chico State campus. Rent is per person, per month.

FMP award criteria

How We Ranked These Apartments

1

Ranked by the FMP Score

FMP Score, high to low. That’s the whole ranking. It’s our overall measure of a property, combining verified review scores with signals reviews miss, like how current the listing is kept and how responsive management is. Ties go to the property with more verified reviews.

2

Who Makes the List

Every property near Chico State can appear, but it takes a minimum number of verified reviews before we score and rank it. Properties under that bar sit below every ranked property and move up automatically as reviews come in.

3

How We Calculate the FMP Score

The FMP Score blends the social, management, and quality scores from verified reviews with signals that a place is actively and well run, like how up to date its listing is kept and how consistently management responds to residents. It’s built to surface genuinely well-run properties, not just the highest raw review average.

by the numbers

What Makes an Apartment ‘well-rounded’ Near Chico State

We ran every verified overall review for Chico State-area apartments through theme analysis. These are the themes students bring up most when a place feels well-rounded, by share of the reviews that mention them.

responsive helpful staff
52%
noise and enforcement issues
15%
unfair deposit charges
8%

Based on AI analysis of verified Chico State overall reviews, refreshed monthly. Percentages show the share of reviews that mention each theme; most reviews mention more than one. See our complete Chico State review data →

faqs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best overall student apartment near Chico State?

Wildcat Crossing leads our September 2026 ranking of the 12 Best Overall student apartments near Chico State with a 4.3/5 FMP Score, followed by FM Esatwood cuort and Gateway Apartments.

How is this ranking calculated?

This list is ranked by one number: each property's overall score from verified reviews. Students rate a property's overall 1 to 5, and we average those scores, counting recent reviews more heavily than older ones. No self-reported data from landlords.

What makes an apartment the best overall?

The best overall apartments score highly across everything students rate (social scene, management, and unit quality), not just one. This ranking uses each property's overall rating from verified reviews.

How often is this ranking updated?

Monthly. We re-pull verified reviews and re-score every property at the start of each month, so the order reflects the most recent 24 months of student feedback. The “updated” date at the top of the page shows the latest refresh.

How many reviews does a property need to be included?

There's a minimum number of verified reviews to rank by score, and we don't publish the exact bar so it can't be gamed. Properties under it still appear, below every qualified property and ordered by review count, so a 5.0 from one review never outranks a 4.5 from thirty. Once a property collects enough reviews, it moves into the scored ranking automatically.

Is this ranking independent, or can properties pay to rank higher?

It's fully independent. There's no pay-to-rank. Position is set by verified reviews alone. Property managers can't buy placement, remove reviews, or influence the score.

for property managers

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Find My Place Award2026
11st place

Best Overall

student apartments near Chico State

Verified & independentCalifornia State University - Chico · Chico, CA
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