Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Conroe, TX
VS
Modesto, CA
🏆 Conroe leads 15 of 22 categories
Conroe
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,630
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
92,475
Modesto
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,375 ✓ Higher
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.
Conroe, TX
Pros
63% less violent crime than Modesto
Homes cost $119k less ($262,500 vs $381,800)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.4 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.5 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $242/mo less ($1,255 vs $1,497)
More college-educated — 32.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Modesto, CA
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $381,800
Violent crime (655.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,497/mo
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Conroe
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Conroe
Violent Crime
63% lower
243.5 vs 655.7 per 100k
Conroe
Median Home Value
$119k less
$262,500 vs $381,800
Conroe
Unemployment
4.4 pp lower
3.4% vs 7.8% unemployment
Modesto
Median Income
$1,745
$73,375 vs $71,630/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Conroe, TX | Modesto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 105.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $262,500 ✓ Lower | $381,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,255 ✓ Lower | $1,497⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,630 | $73,375 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter | 29.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 70 ✓ Safer | 150⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.2% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| High School or Higher | 86.5% ✓ Higher | 83.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | CONROE ISD | Modesto City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.7°F ✓ Warmer | 56.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.0" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,475 | 218,308 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.1% | 57.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.3% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Conroe's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Modesto's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Conroe is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Conroe leads 15 of 22 categories. Conroe 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 Conroe to Modesto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($262,500 vs $381,800 median home), income ($71,630 vs $73,375), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Conroe, TX and Modesto, CA are about 1,541 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.