Is West Modesto, CA a Good Place to Live?
West Modesto is a small town of 5,438 in California, with a median household income of $55,500 and a 9.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 105 (US average = 100), which is 5% above the national average.
Strengths: West Modesto's profile is close to national averages across most measures.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether West Modesto is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All West Modesto city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 105.0West Modesto's overall cost of living index is 105.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in West Modesto costs roughly 5% more than the average American city.
| Metric | West Modesto, CA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $280,700 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,240 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.1% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $55,500 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Near National AverageWest Modesto's violent crime rate is 481.8 per 100,000 residents — 27% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
| Metric | West Modesto, CA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | N/A | — |
| Elementary Schools | N/A | — |
| Middle Schools | N/A | — |
| High Schools | N/A | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | N/A | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 7.1% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 68.6% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
West Modesto sees average highs of 56.1°F in January and 95.0°F in July, with 12.3 inches of annual precipitation .
| Metric | West Modesto, CA |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 56.1°F |
| Average High — July | 95.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | Trace / None |
Demographics
| Metric | West Modesto, CA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,438 | — |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.7% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 31.6 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 40.4% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 2.2% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 51.1% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 2.7% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 11.0% | 16.8% |