Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fresno, CA
VS
Modesto, CA
🏆 Fresno leads 11 of 21 categories
Fresno
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,001
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
541,528 ✓ Larger
Modesto
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,375 ✓ Higher
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.
Fresno, CA
Pros
Rent averages $270/mo less ($1,227 vs $1,497)
Homes cost $60k less ($321,800 vs $381,800)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 24.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 19.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Modesto by $10,374/yr
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 7.8%)
Modesto, CA
Pros
11% less violent crime than Fresno
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (7.8%)
Households earn $10,374 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (655.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,497/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $381,800
Longer commutes — 29.4 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Fresno
Median Home Value
$60k less
$321,800 vs $381,800
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 105.0 on the COL index
Modesto
Median Income
$10,374
$73,375 vs $63,001/yr
Modesto
Violent Crime
11% lower
655.7 vs 735.5 per 100k
Modesto
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
7.8% vs 9.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fresno, CA | Modesto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.0⚠ High | 105.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $321,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $381,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 ✓ Lower | $1,497⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,001 | $73,375 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High | 7.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 29.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 178⚠ High | 150⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 83.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fresno Unified | Modesto City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.4°F | 56.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer | 95.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 12.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 541,528 ✓ Larger | 218,308 |
| Median Age | 32.1 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% | 57.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 26.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fresno's cost of living index is 105.0 vs Modesto's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Fresno leads 11 of 21 categories. Fresno wins 11 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 Fresno to Modesto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($321,800 vs $381,800 median home), income ($63,001 vs $73,375), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fresno, CA and Modesto, CA are about 89 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.