Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jersey City, NJ
VS
Modesto, CA
🏆 Modesto leads 12 of 23 categories
Jersey City
New Jersey
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,151 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
148⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
287,899 ✓ Larger
Modesto
California
12
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.
Jersey City, NJ
Pros
14% less violent crime than Modesto
More college-educated — 51.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $17,776 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (5.8%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (561.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $500,100
Higher rents — median is $1,799/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Modesto, CA
Pros
Homes cost $118k less ($381,800 vs $500,100)
Rent averages $302/mo less ($1,497 vs $1,799)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 39°F
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Jersey City
Cons
Violent crime (655.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Jersey City by $17,776/yr
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 5.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Jersey City
Median Income
$17,776
$91,151 vs $73,375/yr
Jersey City
Violent Crime
14% lower
561.6 vs 655.7 per 100k
Jersey City
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
5.8% vs 7.8% unemployment
Modesto
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 105.0 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Modesto
Median Home Value
$118k less
$381,800 vs $500,100
Modesto
Summer Heat
8.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 86.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jersey City, NJ | Modesto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $500,100⚠ High | $381,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,799⚠ High | $1,497⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $91,151 ✓ Higher | $73,375 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 37.0 min⚠ High | 29.4 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 150⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High ✓ 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 | A- (117) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.9% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% ✓ Higher | 83.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jersey City Public Schools | Modesto City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.4°F | 56.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.4" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 287,899 ✓ Larger | 218,308 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 29.2% | 57.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jersey City's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Modesto's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Modesto is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Modesto leads 12 of 23 categories. Jersey City 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 Jersey City to Modesto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($500,100 vs $381,800 median home), income ($91,151 vs $73,375), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jersey City, NJ and Modesto, CA are about 2,493 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.