Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Knoxville, TN
VS
Modesto, CA
🏆 Modesto leads 12 of 22 categories
Knoxville
Tennessee
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,309
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
191,857
Modesto
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,375 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
218,308 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Knoxville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $198k less ($184,200 vs $381,800)
Rent averages $454/mo less ($1,043 vs $1,497)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (4.8%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Modesto
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Modesto by $25,066/yr
Violent crime (740.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2721.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Modesto, CA
Pros
Households earn $25,066 more per year on average
11% less violent crime than Knoxville
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $381,800
Higher rents — median is $1,497/mo
Violent crime (655.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Knoxville
Key Differences at a Glance
Knoxville
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Knoxville
Median Home Value
$198k less
$184,200 vs $381,800
Knoxville
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
4.8% vs 7.8% unemployment
Modesto
Median Income
$25,066
$73,375 vs $48,309/yr
Modesto
Violent Crime
11% lower
655.7 vs 740.3 per 100k
Modesto
Summer Heat
6.7°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 88.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Knoxville, TN | Modesto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 105.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $184,200 ✓ Lower | $381,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,043 ✓ Lower | $1,497⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,309 | $73,375 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter | 29.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 150⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 21.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 83.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Knox County | Modesto City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F | 56.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.3°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.8" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 191,857 | 218,308 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.2% | 57.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Knoxville's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Modesto's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Knoxville is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Modesto leads 12 of 22 categories. Knoxville wins 10 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 Knoxville to Modesto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,200 vs $381,800 median home), income ($48,309 vs $73,375), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Knoxville, TN and Modesto, CA are about 2,040 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.