Head-to-Head · City Comparison
McAllen, TX
VS
Modesto, CA
🏆 McAllen leads 16 of 23 categories
McAllen
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
142,722
Modesto
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,375 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High
Population
218,308 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
McAllen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $223k less ($158,700 vs $381,800)
77% less violent crime than Modesto
Rent averages $542/mo less ($955 vs $1,497)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (5.4%)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Modesto
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails Modesto by $17,049/yr
Modesto, CA
Pros
Households earn $17,049 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 19% higher than McAllen
Key Differences at a Glance
McAllen
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Violent Crime
77% lower
150.0 vs 655.7 per 100k
McAllen
Median Home Value
$223k less
$158,700 vs $381,800
McAllen
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
5.4% vs 7.8% unemployment
Modesto
Median Income
$17,049
$73,375 vs $56,326/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | McAllen, TX | Modesto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 105.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,700 ✓ Lower | $381,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $955 ✓ Lower | $1,497⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,326 | $73,375 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 29.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.5% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 150⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 83.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MCALLEN ISD | Modesto City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer | 56.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer | 95.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 27.4" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,722 | 218,308 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.4% ✓ Higher | 57.7% |
| Under 18 | 28.3% ✓ More | 26.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
McAllen's cost of living index is 85.6 vs Modesto's 105.0 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McAllen leads 16 of 23 categories. McAllen wins 16 and Modesto wins 7. 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 McAllen to Modesto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,700 vs $381,800 median home), income ($56,326 vs $73,375), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
McAllen, TX and Modesto, CA are about 1,544 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.