Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Germantown, MD
VS
Modesto, CA
🏆 Modesto leads 11 of 20 categories
Germantown
Maryland
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,268 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
90,210
Modesto
California
11
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.
Germantown, MD
Pros
Households earn $35,893 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,908/mo
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Modesto
Modesto, CA
Pros
Rent averages $411/mo less ($1,497 vs $1,908)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 39°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Germantown
Cons
Median income trails Germantown by $35,893/yr
Violent crime (655.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 5.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Germantown
Median Income
$35,893
$109,268 vs $73,375/yr
Germantown
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
5.2% vs 7.8% unemployment
Modesto
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 105.0 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Modesto
Median Home Value
$12k less
$381,800 vs $393,700
Modesto
Summer Heat
10.7°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 84.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Germantown, MD | Modesto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $393,700⚠ High | $381,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,908⚠ High | $1,497⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $109,268 ✓ Higher | $73,375 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 min⚠ High | 29.4 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 150⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 173⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 115⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.9% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| High School or Higher | 89.5% ✓ Higher | 83.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County Public Schools | Modesto City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 56.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.3°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.7" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 90,210 | 218,308 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.9% ✓ Higher | 57.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Germantown's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Modesto's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Modesto is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Modesto leads 11 of 20 categories. Germantown wins 9 and Modesto wins 11. 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 Germantown to Modesto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($393,700 vs $381,800 median home), income ($109,268 vs $73,375), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Germantown, MD and Modesto, CA are about 2,347 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.