Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Modesto, CA
VS
O'Fallon, MO
🏆 O'Fallon leads 16 of 23 categories
Modesto
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,375
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High
Population
218,308 ✓ Larger
O'Fallon
Missouri
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$104,863 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
91,825
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Modesto, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 39°F
Cons
Median income trails O'Fallon by $31,488/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $381,800
Violent crime (655.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,497/mo
O'Fallon, MO
Pros
91% less violent crime than Modesto
Households earn $31,488 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.7 pts lower (3.1%)
Homes cost $98k less ($283,600 vs $381,800)
Violent crime is well below the national average (59.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Modesto
Summer Heat
7.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 87.5°F
O'Fallon
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 96.3 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
O'Fallon
Median Income
$31,488
$104,863 vs $73,375/yr
O'Fallon
Violent Crime
91% lower
59.0 vs 655.7 per 100k
O'Fallon
Median Home Value
$98k less
$283,600 vs $381,800
O'Fallon
Unemployment
4.7 pp lower
3.1% vs 7.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Modesto, CA | O'Fallon, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.0⚠ High | 96.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $381,800⚠ High | $283,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,497⚠ High | $1,311 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,375 | $104,863 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.8%⚠ High | 3.1% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.4 min⚠ High | 26.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% | 14.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 150⚠ High | 18 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 173⚠ High | 16 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 23 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (65) | A (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.8:1 | 12.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.7% | 42.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.6% | 95.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Modesto City Elementary | FORT ZUMWALT SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.1°F ✓ Warmer | 39.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer | 87.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.3" ✓ Drier | 44.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 13.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 218,308 ✓ Larger | 91,825 |
| Median Age | 34.9 | 38.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.7% | 80.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 24.9% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Modesto's cost of living index is 105.0 vs O'Fallon's 96.3 (US average = 100).
O'Fallon is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, O'Fallon leads 16 of 23 categories. Modesto wins 7 and O'Fallon wins 16. 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 Modesto to O'Fallon or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($381,800 vs $283,600 median home), income ($73,375 vs $104,863), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Modesto, CA and O'Fallon, MO are about 1,638 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.