Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chino, CA
VS
Modesto, CA
🏆 Chino leads 12 of 22 categories
Chino
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,385 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
79 ✓ Safer
Population
91,008
Modesto
California
10
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.
Chino, CA
Pros
54% less violent crime than Modesto
Households earn $26,010 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (5.5%)
More college-educated — 28.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 56°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $599,200
Higher rents — median is $2,001/mo
Longer commutes — 34.2 min average each way
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Modesto
Modesto, CA
Pros
Homes cost $217k less ($381,800 vs $599,200)
Rent averages $504/mo less ($1,497 vs $2,001)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 21.8:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Chino
Cons
Median income trails Chino by $26,010/yr
Violent crime (655.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chino
Median Income
$26,010
$99,385 vs $73,375/yr
Chino
Violent Crime
54% lower
299.5 vs 655.7 per 100k
Chino
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.8% unemployment
Modesto
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 105.0 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Modesto
Median Home Value
$217k less
$381,800 vs $599,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chino, CA | Modesto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $599,200⚠ High | $381,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,001⚠ High | $1,497⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,385 ✓ Higher | $73,375 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.2 min⚠ High | 29.4 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.1% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 89 ✓ Safer | 150⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.4:1 | 21.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| High School or Higher | 83.4% | 83.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chino Valley Unified | Modesto City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.5°F ✓ Warmer | 56.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.7°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.0" ✓ Drier | 12.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,008 | 218,308 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.7% ✓ Higher | 57.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.1% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chino's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Modesto's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Modesto is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Chino leads 12 of 22 categories. Chino wins 12 and Modesto wins 10. 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 Chino to Modesto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($599,200 vs $381,800 median home), income ($99,385 vs $73,375), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chino, CA and Modesto, CA are about 315 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.