Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Los Angeles, CA
VS
Modesto, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Los Angeles
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,244 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
192⚠ High
Population
3,881,041 ✓ Larger
Modesto
California
11
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.
Los Angeles, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 36.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 95°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 56°F
Smaller class sizes — 19.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Households earn $2,869 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $822,600
Violent crime (728.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,791/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Modesto, CA
Pros
Homes cost $441k less ($381,800 vs $822,600)
10% less violent crime than Los Angeles
Rent averages $294/mo less ($1,497 vs $1,791)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Los Angeles
Cons
Violent crime (655.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Los Angeles by $2,869/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Los Angeles
Median Income
$2,869
$76,244 vs $73,375/yr
Modesto
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 105.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Modesto
Violent Crime
10% lower
655.7 vs 728.5 per 100k
Modesto
Median Home Value
$441k less
$381,800 vs $822,600
Modesto
Summer Heat
17.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 78.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Los Angeles, 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 | $822,600⚠ High | $381,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,791⚠ High | $1,497⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,244 ✓ Higher | $73,375 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 29.4 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer | 150⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.7% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 83.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Los Angeles Unified | Modesto City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer | 56.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.0°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.1" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 3,881,041 ✓ Larger | 218,308 |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.6% | 57.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Los Angeles'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, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Los Angeles wins 11 and Modesto wins 11. 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 Los Angeles to Modesto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($822,600 vs $381,800 median home), income ($76,244 vs $73,375), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Los Angeles, CA and Modesto, CA are about 289 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.