Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Modesto, CA
VS
San Bernardino, CA
🏆 Modesto leads 12 of 22 categories
Modesto
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,375 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
218,308
San Bernardino
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,323
Violent Crime Index
236⚠ High
Population
221,041 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Modesto, CA
Pros
27% less violent crime than San Bernardino
Households earn $12,052 more per year on average
More college-educated — 19.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
3% cheaper overall cost of living than San Bernardino
Cons
Violent crime (655.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,497/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $381,800
San Bernardino, CA
Pros
Rent averages $178/mo less ($1,319 vs $1,497)
Homes cost $35k less ($347,100 vs $381,800)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 56°F
Cons
Violent crime (897.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Modesto by $12,052/yr
Property crime (2897.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Modesto
Key Differences at a Glance
Modesto
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 105.0 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Modesto
Median Income
$12,052
$73,375 vs $61,323/yr
Modesto
Violent Crime
27% lower
655.7 vs 897.1 per 100k
San Bernardino
Median Home Value
$35k less
$347,100 vs $381,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Modesto, CA | San Bernardino, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $381,800⚠ High | $347,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,497⚠ High | $1,319 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,375 ✓ Higher | $61,323 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.8%⚠ High | 7.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.4 min⚠ High | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% ✓ Higher | 5.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 150⚠ High ✓ Safer | 197⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (65) | C (81) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.8:1 | 20.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.7% ✓ Higher | 12.8% |
| High School or Higher | 83.6% ✓ Higher | 72.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Modesto City Elementary | San Bernardino City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.1°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.0°F | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.3" ✓ Drier | 21.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 218,308 | 221,041 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.9 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.7% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Modesto's cost of living index is 105.0 vs San Bernardino's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Modesto is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Modesto leads 12 of 22 categories. Modesto wins 12 and San Bernardino wins 10. 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 San Bernardino or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($381,800 vs $347,100 median home), income ($73,375 vs $61,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Modesto, CA and San Bernardino, CA are about 318 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.