Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Irvine, CA
VS
Modesto, CA
🏆 Irvine leads 12 of 22 categories
Irvine
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$122,948 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
304,527 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Irvine, CA
Pros
87% less violent crime than Modesto
Households earn $49,573 more per year on average
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (5.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (84.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,025,700
Higher rents — median is $2,749/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 $644k less ($381,800 vs $1,025,700)
Rent averages $1252/mo less ($1,497 vs $2,749)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Irvine
Smaller class sizes — 21.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Irvine by $49,573/yr
Violent crime (655.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 5.5%)
Longer commutes — 29.4 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Irvine
Median Income
$49,573
$122,948 vs $73,375/yr
Irvine
Violent Crime
87% lower
84.0 vs 655.7 per 100k
Irvine
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.8% unemployment
Modesto
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 105.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Modesto
Median Home Value
$644k less
$381,800 vs $1,025,700
Modesto
Summer Heat
9.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 85.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Irvine, 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 | $1,025,700⚠ High | $381,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,749⚠ High | $1,497⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $122,948 ✓ Higher | $73,375 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter | 29.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 23.1% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 40 ✓ Safer | 150⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 22 ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 26.5:1 | 21.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.0% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| High School or Higher | 96.3% ✓ Higher | 83.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Irvine Unified | Modesto City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.8°F ✓ Warmer | 56.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.1°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.1" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 304,527 ✓ Larger | 218,308 |
| Median Age | 33.8 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.9% | 57.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Irvine'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, Irvine leads 12 of 22 categories. Irvine 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 Irvine to Modesto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,025,700 vs $381,800 median home), income ($122,948 vs $73,375), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Irvine, CA and Modesto, CA are about 328 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.