Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Daly City, CA
VS
Modesto, CA
🏆 Daly City leads 14 of 22 categories
Daly City
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$114,910 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
78 ✓ Safer
Population
103,648
Modesto
California
8
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.
Daly City, CA
Pros
Households earn $41,535 more per year on average
55% less violent crime than Modesto
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (5.4%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 95°F
More college-educated — 38.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,073,100
Higher rents — median is $2,554/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Modesto
Modesto, CA
Pros
Homes cost $691k less ($381,800 vs $1,073,100)
Rent averages $1057/mo less ($1,497 vs $2,554)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Daly City
Cons
Median income trails Daly City by $41,535/yr
Violent crime (655.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 5.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Daly City
Median Income
$41,535
$114,910 vs $73,375/yr
Daly City
Violent Crime
55% lower
296.3 vs 655.7 per 100k
Daly City
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
5.4% vs 7.8% unemployment
Modesto
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 105.0 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Modesto
Median Home Value
$691k less
$381,800 vs $1,073,100
Modesto
Summer Heat
33.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 61.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Daly City, CA | Modesto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,073,100⚠ High | $381,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,554⚠ High | $1,497⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $114,910 ✓ Higher | $73,375 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.8 min⚠ High | 29.4 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 81 ✓ Safer | 150⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 86 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.5% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| High School or Higher | 87.8% ✓ Higher | 83.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson Elementary | Modesto City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer | 56.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 61.8°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.6" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 103,648 | 218,308 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.4 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% ✓ Higher | 57.7% |
| Under 18 | 14.8% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.5% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Daly City's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Modesto's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Modesto is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Daly City leads 14 of 22 categories. Daly City wins 14 and Modesto wins 8. 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 Daly City to Modesto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,073,100 vs $381,800 median home), income ($114,910 vs $73,375), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Daly City, CA and Modesto, CA are about 80 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.