Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Evansville, IN
VS
Modesto, CA
🏆 Modesto leads 12 of 23 categories
Evansville
Indiana
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,853
Violent Crime Index
317⚠ High
Population
116,906
Modesto
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,375 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
218,308 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Evansville, IN
Pros
Homes cost $261k less ($121,100 vs $381,800)
Rent averages $580/mo less ($917 vs $1,497)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (5.7%)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Modesto
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Cons
Median income trails Modesto by $23,522/yr
Violent crime (1206.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3678.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Modesto, CA
Pros
Households earn $23,522 more per year on average
46% less violent crime than Evansville
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 42°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $381,800
Higher rents — median is $1,497/mo
Violent crime (655.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Evansville
Key Differences at a Glance
Evansville
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Evansville
Median Home Value
$261k less
$121,100 vs $381,800
Evansville
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.8% unemployment
Modesto
Median Income
$23,522
$73,375 vs $49,853/yr
Modesto
Violent Crime
46% lower
655.7 vs 1206.2 per 100k
Modesto
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 89.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Evansville, IN | Modesto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 105.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $121,100 ✓ Lower | $381,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 ✓ Lower | $1,497⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,853 | $73,375 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 29.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.2% | 6.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 261⚠ High | 150⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 317⚠ High | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| High School or Higher | 89.2% ✓ Higher | 83.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp | Modesto City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.3°F | 56.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.8" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 10.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,906 | 218,308 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.2% | 57.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Evansville's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Modesto's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Evansville is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Modesto leads 12 of 23 categories. Evansville wins 11 and Modesto wins 12. 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 Evansville to Modesto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($121,100 vs $381,800 median home), income ($49,853 vs $73,375), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Evansville, IN and Modesto, CA are about 1,817 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.