Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boca Raton, FL
VS
Modesto, CA
🏆 Boca Raton leads 15 of 22 categories
Boca Raton
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
97,980
Modesto
California
7
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.
Boca Raton, FL
Pros
74% less violent crime than Modesto
More college-educated — 59.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $22,195 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (171.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (5.9%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,100
Higher rents — median is $2,170/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Modesto
Modesto, CA
Pros
Homes cost $215k less ($381,800 vs $597,100)
Rent averages $673/mo less ($1,497 vs $2,170)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Boca Raton
Cons
Violent crime (655.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Boca Raton by $22,195/yr
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 5.9%)
Longer commutes — 29.4 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Boca Raton
Median Income
$22,195
$95,570 vs $73,375/yr
Boca Raton
Violent Crime
74% lower
171.0 vs 655.7 per 100k
Boca Raton
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
5.9% vs 7.8% unemployment
Modesto
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 105.0 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Modesto
Median Home Value
$215k less
$381,800 vs $597,100
Modesto
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 90.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | Modesto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,100⚠ High | $381,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,170⚠ High | $1,497⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,570 ✓ Higher | $73,375 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 29.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 18.0% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 150⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.0% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| High School or Higher | 96.0% ✓ Higher | 83.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PALM BEACH | Modesto City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.3°F ✓ Warmer | 56.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.6" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,980 | 218,308 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 47.1 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 57.7% |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 25.7% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boca Raton's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Modesto's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Modesto is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Boca Raton leads 15 of 22 categories. Boca Raton wins 15 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 Boca Raton to Modesto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,100 vs $381,800 median home), income ($95,570 vs $73,375), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boca Raton, FL and Modesto, CA are about 2,497 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.