Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charlotte, NC
VS
Modesto, CA
🏆 Charlotte leads 12 of 23 categories
Charlotte
North Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
193⚠ High
Population
875,045 ✓ Larger
Modesto
California
11
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.
Charlotte, NC
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 46.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $69k less ($312,800 vs $381,800)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Modesto
Rent averages $98/mo less ($1,399 vs $1,497)
Cons
Violent crime (733.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3705.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Modesto, CA
Pros
11% less violent crime than Charlotte
Cons
Violent crime (655.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $381,800
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 4.7%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Charlotte
Key Differences at a Glance
Charlotte
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 97.0 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Charlotte
Median Income
$695
$74,070 vs $73,375/yr
Charlotte
Median Home Value
$69k less
$312,800 vs $381,800
Charlotte
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
4.7% vs 7.8% unemployment
Modesto
Violent Crime
11% lower
655.7 vs 733.2 per 100k
Modesto
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 90.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charlotte, NC | Modesto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 ✓ Cheaper | 105.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $312,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $381,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,399⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,497⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,070 ✓ Higher | $73,375 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 29.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High | 150⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 193⚠ High | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.6% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% ✓ Higher | 83.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | Modesto City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 52.3°F | 56.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.8" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 875,045 ✓ Larger | 218,308 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.1% | 57.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charlotte's cost of living index is 97.0 vs Modesto's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Charlotte is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Charlotte leads 12 of 23 categories. Charlotte 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 Charlotte to Modesto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,800 vs $381,800 median home), income ($74,070 vs $73,375), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charlotte, NC and Modesto, CA are about 2,223 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.