Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Atlanta, GA
VS
Modesto, CA
🏆 Modesto leads 13 of 23 categories
Atlanta
Georgia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,655 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
221⚠ High
Population
494,838 ✓ Larger
Modesto
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,375
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
218,308
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Atlanta, GA
Pros
More college-educated — 57.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (5.8%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 95°F
Households earn $4,280 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Modesto
Cons
Violent crime (840.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3748.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Modesto, CA
Pros
22% less violent crime than Atlanta
Cons
Violent crime (655.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 5.8%)
Median income trails Atlanta by $4,280/yr
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Atlanta
Key Differences at a Glance
Atlanta
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Atlanta
Median Income
$4,280
$77,655 vs $73,375/yr
Atlanta
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
5.8% vs 7.8% unemployment
Modesto
Violent Crime
22% lower
655.7 vs 840.6 per 100k
Modesto
Median Home Value
$14k less
$381,800 vs $395,600
Modesto
Summer Heat
5.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 90.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Atlanta, GA | Modesto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 105.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $395,600⚠ High | $381,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,512⚠ High | $1,497⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,655 ✓ Higher | $73,375 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min ✓ Shorter | 29.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 204⚠ High | 150⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.3% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 83.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Atlanta Public Schools | Modesto City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 53.7°F | 56.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.0°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 494,838 ✓ Larger | 218,308 |
| Median Age | 33.6 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.7% | 57.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.2% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Atlanta's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Modesto's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Atlanta is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Modesto leads 13 of 23 categories. Atlanta 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 Atlanta to Modesto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($395,600 vs $381,800 median home), income ($77,655 vs $73,375), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Atlanta, GA and Modesto, CA are about 2,057 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.