Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Las Vegas, NV
VS
Modesto, CA
🏆 Las Vegas leads 18 of 22 categories
Las Vegas
Nevada
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,356
Violent Crime Index
113⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
644,835 ✓ Larger
Modesto
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,375 ✓ Higher
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.
Las Vegas, NV
Pros
34% less violent crime than Modesto
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Rent averages $141/mo less ($1,356 vs $1,497)
More college-educated — 26.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 18.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Homes cost $17k less ($365,300 vs $381,800)
Cons
Property crime (2622.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Modesto by $7,019/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Modesto, CA
Pros
Households earn $7,019 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 95°F vs 104°F
Cons
Violent crime (655.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,497/mo
Longer commutes — 29.4 min average each way
Pricier housing — median home is $381,800
Key Differences at a Glance
Las Vegas
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 101.6 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Las Vegas
Violent Crime
34% lower
429.8 vs 655.7 per 100k
Las Vegas
Median Home Value
$17k less
$365,300 vs $381,800
Las Vegas
Summer Heat
8.8°F warmer
July avg high 103.8°F vs 95.0°F
Modesto
Median Income
$7,019
$73,375 vs $66,356/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Las Vegas, NV | Modesto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 105.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $365,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $381,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,356⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,497⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,356 | $73,375 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.9 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 | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 150⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.3% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| High School or Higher | 85.6% ✓ Higher | 83.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clark County | Modesto City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer | 56.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 103.8°F ✓ Warmer | 95.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.1" ✓ Drier | 12.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 644,835 ✓ Larger | 218,308 |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.8% | 57.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Las Vegas's cost of living index is 101.6 vs Modesto's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Las Vegas is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Las Vegas leads 18 of 22 categories. Las Vegas wins 18 and Modesto wins 4. 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 Las Vegas to Modesto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($365,300 vs $381,800 median home), income ($66,356 vs $73,375), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Las Vegas, NV and Modesto, CA are about 331 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.