Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellevue, WA
VS
Modesto, CA
🏆 Bellevue leads 12 of 23 categories
Bellevue
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$149,551 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
150,606
Modesto
California
11
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.
Bellevue, WA
Pros
Households earn $76,176 more per year on average
79% less violent crime than Modesto
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (4.0%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.6 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,139,500
Higher rents — median is $2,422/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3339.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Modesto, CA
Pros
Homes cost $758k less ($381,800 vs $1,139,500)
Rent averages $925/mo less ($1,497 vs $2,422)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Bellevue
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 47°F
Cons
Median income trails Bellevue by $76,176/yr
Violent crime (655.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 4.0%)
Longer commutes — 29.4 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellevue
Median Income
$76,176
$149,551 vs $73,375/yr
Bellevue
Violent Crime
79% lower
138.6 vs 655.7 per 100k
Bellevue
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
4.0% vs 7.8% unemployment
Modesto
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 105.0 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Modesto
Median Home Value
$758k less
$381,800 vs $1,139,500
Modesto
Summer Heat
18.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellevue, WA | Modesto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,139,500⚠ High | $381,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,422⚠ High | $1,497⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $149,551 ✓ Higher | $73,375 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 29.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 29.9% ✓ 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 | 36 ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 159⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.0% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 83.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellevue School District | Modesto City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F | 56.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.9" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,606 | 218,308 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.3 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% | 57.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellevue's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Modesto's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Modesto is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bellevue leads 12 of 23 categories. Bellevue wins 12 and Modesto wins 11. 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 Bellevue to Modesto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,139,500 vs $381,800 median home), income ($149,551 vs $73,375), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellevue, WA and Modesto, CA are about 691 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.