Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, CA
VS
Modesto, CA
🏆 Glendale leads 12 of 22 categories
Glendale
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,219 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
76 ✓ Safer
Population
194,512
Modesto
California
10
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.
Glendale, CA
Pros
56% less violent crime than Modesto
More college-educated — 43.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $7,844 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 56°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $992,000
Higher rents — median is $2,002/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Modesto
Modesto, CA
Pros
Homes cost $610k less ($381,800 vs $992,000)
Rent averages $505/mo less ($1,497 vs $2,002)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Glendale
Smaller class sizes — 21.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (655.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Glendale by $7,844/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Median Income
$7,844
$81,219 vs $73,375/yr
Glendale
Violent Crime
56% lower
287.2 vs 655.7 per 100k
Modesto
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 105.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Modesto
Median Home Value
$610k less
$381,800 vs $992,000
Modesto
Summer Heat
9.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 85.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, CA | Modesto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $992,000⚠ High | $381,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,002⚠ High | $1,497⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,219 ✓ Higher | $73,375 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 7.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter | 29.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 150⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 76 ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.6:1 | 21.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.8% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 83.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Glendale Unified | Modesto City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer | 56.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.8°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 194,512 | 218,308 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.1 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.2% | 57.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Modesto's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Modesto is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Glendale leads 12 of 22 categories. Glendale wins 12 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 Glendale to Modesto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($992,000 vs $381,800 median home), income ($81,219 vs $73,375), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, CA and Modesto, CA are about 284 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.