Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lubbock, TX
VS
Modesto, CA
🏆 Modesto leads 13 of 23 categories
Lubbock
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,734
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
258,190 ✓ Larger
Modesto
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,375 ✓ Higher
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.
Lubbock, TX
Pros
Homes cost $200k less ($181,600 vs $381,800)
Rent averages $404/mo less ($1,093 vs $1,497)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (4.6%)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Modesto
More college-educated — 34.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (821.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Modesto by $14,641/yr
Property crime (2628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Modesto, CA
Pros
20% less violent crime than Lubbock
Households earn $14,641 more per year on average
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 14% higher than Lubbock
Key Differences at a Glance
Lubbock
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Lubbock
Median Home Value
$200k less
$181,600 vs $381,800
Lubbock
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
4.6% vs 7.8% unemployment
Modesto
Median Income
$14,641
$73,375 vs $58,734/yr
Modesto
Violent Crime
20% lower
655.7 vs 821.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lubbock, TX | Modesto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper | 105.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $181,600 ✓ Lower | $381,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,093 ✓ Lower | $1,497⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,734 | $73,375 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.1 min ✓ Shorter | 29.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 6.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 180⚠ High | 150⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.2% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 83.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LUBBOCK ISD | Modesto City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.0°F | 56.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.5" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 258,190 ✓ Larger | 218,308 |
| Median Age | 30.0 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.0% | 57.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lubbock's cost of living index is 90.9 vs Modesto's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Lubbock is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Modesto leads 13 of 23 categories. Lubbock wins 10 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 Lubbock to Modesto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($181,600 vs $381,800 median home), income ($58,734 vs $73,375), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lubbock, TX and Modesto, CA are about 1,108 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.