Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Modesto, CA
🏆 Modesto leads 13 of 23 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
157,594
Modesto
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,375
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High
Population
218,308 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
67% less violent crime than Modesto
Households earn $39,804 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.6 pts lower (3.2%)
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $655,700
Higher rents — median is $1,983/mo
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Modesto
Modesto, CA
Pros
Homes cost $274k less ($381,800 vs $655,700)
Rent averages $486/mo less ($1,497 vs $1,983)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 45°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Alexandria
Cons
Median income trails Alexandria by $39,804/yr
Violent crime (655.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Median Income
$39,804
$113,179 vs $73,375/yr
Alexandria
Violent Crime
67% lower
219.1 vs 655.7 per 100k
Alexandria
Unemployment
4.6 pp lower
3.2% vs 7.8% unemployment
Modesto
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 105.0 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Modesto
Median Home Value
$274k less
$381,800 vs $655,700
Modesto
Summer Heat
5.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Modesto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $381,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $1,497⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $73,375 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 29.4 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 150⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 83.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | Modesto City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 56.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 | 218,308 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 57.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Modesto's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Modesto is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Modesto leads 13 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 10 and Modesto wins 13. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Alexandria to Modesto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $381,800 median home), income ($113,179 vs $73,375), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Modesto, CA are about 2,362 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.