Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Long Beach, CA
VS
Modesto, CA
🏆 Modesto leads 13 of 22 categories
Long Beach
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,995 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
462,293 ✓ Larger
Modesto
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,375
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
218,308
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Long Beach, CA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (6.6%)
More college-educated — 33.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 95°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 56°F
Households earn $5,620 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $709,700
Violent crime (676.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (3478.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Modesto, CA
Pros
Homes cost $328k less ($381,800 vs $709,700)
Rent averages $201/mo less ($1,497 vs $1,698)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Long Beach
Smaller class sizes — 21.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (655.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 6.6%)
Median income trails Long Beach by $5,620/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Long Beach
Median Income
$5,620
$78,995 vs $73,375/yr
Long Beach
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
6.6% vs 7.8% unemployment
Modesto
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 105.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Modesto
Violent Crime
3% lower
655.7 vs 676.4 per 100k
Modesto
Median Home Value
$328k less
$381,800 vs $709,700
Modesto
Summer Heat
13.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Long Beach, 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 | $709,700⚠ High | $381,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,698⚠ High | $1,497⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,995 ✓ Higher | $73,375 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 29.4 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 173⚠ High | 150⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 166⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 21.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.7% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% | 83.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Modesto City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 56.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.0" ✓ Drier | 12.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 462,293 ✓ Larger | 218,308 |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 57.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Long Beach'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, Modesto leads 13 of 22 categories. Long Beach wins 9 and Modesto wins 13. 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 Long Beach to Modesto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($709,700 vs $381,800 median home), income ($78,995 vs $73,375), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Long Beach, CA and Modesto, CA are about 310 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.