Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Modesto, CA
🏆 Arlington leads 16 of 23 categories
Arlington
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,736
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
393,469 ✓ Larger
Modesto
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,375 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High
Population
218,308
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, TX
Pros
Homes cost $131k less ($251,300 vs $381,800)
26% less violent crime than Modesto
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.6%)
Rent averages $200/mo less ($1,297 vs $1,497)
More college-educated — 32.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Modesto, CA
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $381,800
Violent crime (655.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,497/mo
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 5.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Arlington
Violent Crime
26% lower
482.9 vs 655.7 per 100k
Arlington
Median Home Value
$131k less
$251,300 vs $381,800
Arlington
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.8% unemployment
Modesto
Median Income
$1,639
$73,375 vs $71,736/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Modesto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 105.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 ✓ Lower | $381,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 ✓ Lower | $1,497⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 | $73,375 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter | 29.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 150⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 115⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% ✓ Higher | 83.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | Modesto City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer | 56.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 95.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 218,308 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% | 57.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.3% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Modesto's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Arlington is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 16 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 16 and Modesto wins 7. 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 Arlington to Modesto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $381,800 median home), income ($71,736 vs $73,375), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Modesto, CA are about 1,387 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.