Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Modesto, CA
VS
Palmdale, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Modesto
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,375
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High
Population
218,308 ✓ Larger
Palmdale
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,414 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
145⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
166,895
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Modesto, CA
Pros
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Palmdale
Rent averages $128/mo less ($1,497 vs $1,625)
More college-educated — 19.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $16k less ($381,800 vs $397,500)
Cons
Violent crime (655.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Palmdale by $5,039/yr
Palmdale, CA
Pros
16% less violent crime than Modesto
Households earn $5,039 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (551.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Modesto
Longer commutes — 41.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Modesto
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 105.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Modesto
Median Home Value
$16k less
$381,800 vs $397,500
Palmdale
Median Income
$5,039
$78,414 vs $73,375/yr
Palmdale
Violent Crime
16% lower
551.0 vs 655.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Modesto, CA | Palmdale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $381,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $397,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,497⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,625⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,375 | $78,414 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.8%⚠ High | 7.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.4 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 41.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% | 7.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 150⚠ High | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 173⚠ High | 145⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (65) ✓ Better | C- (59) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.7% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 83.6% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Modesto City Elementary | Palmdale Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.1°F | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.0°F | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.3" | 7.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 218,308 ✓ Larger | 166,895 |
| Median Age | 34.9 ✓ Older | 33.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.7% | 66.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.5% | 29.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Modesto's cost of living index is 105.0 vs Palmdale's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Modesto is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Modesto wins 11 and Palmdale 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 Modesto to Palmdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($381,800 vs $397,500 median home), income ($73,375 vs $78,414), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Modesto, CA and Palmdale, CA are about 265 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.