Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Modesto, CA
VS
Savannah, GA
🏆 Savannah leads 13 of 20 categories
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
Savannah
Georgia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,748
Violent Crime Index
5 ✓ Safer
Population
147,583
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Modesto, CA
Pros
Households earn $18,627 more per year on average
Cons
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
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Savannah
Savannah, GA
Pros
Homes cost $179k less ($203,300 vs $381,800)
97% less violent crime than Modesto
Rent averages $281/mo less ($1,216 vs $1,497)
Violent crime is well below the national average (20.3 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (7.2%)
Cons
Median income trails Modesto by $18,627/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Modesto
Median Income
$18,627
$73,375 vs $54,748/yr
Savannah
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 95.6 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Savannah
Violent Crime
97% lower
20.3 vs 655.7 per 100k
Savannah
Median Home Value
$179k less
$203,300 vs $381,800
Savannah
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
7.2% vs 7.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Modesto, CA | Savannah, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.0⚠ High | 95.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $381,800⚠ High | $203,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,497⚠ High | $1,216 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,375 ✓ Higher | $54,748 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.8%⚠ High | 7.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.4 min⚠ High | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 150⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 173⚠ High | 5 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (65) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.8:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.7% | 31.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.6% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Modesto City Elementary | Savannah-Chatham County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.1°F | 61.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer | 92.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.3" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 218,308 ✓ Larger | 147,583 |
| Median Age | 34.9 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.7% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 20.1% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 14.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Modesto's cost of living index is 105.0 vs Savannah's 95.6 (US average = 100).
Savannah is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Savannah leads 13 of 20 categories. Modesto wins 7 and Savannah 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 Modesto to Savannah or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($381,800 vs $203,300 median home), income ($73,375 vs $54,748), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Modesto, CA and Savannah, GA are about 2,274 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.