Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Modesto, CA
VS
South Gate, CA
🏆 Modesto leads 17 of 22 categories
Modesto
California
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,375 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High
Population
218,308 ✓ Larger
South Gate
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,188
Violent Crime Index
138⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
92,381
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Modesto, CA
Pros
Homes cost $197k less ($381,800 vs $578,900)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than South Gate
More college-educated — 19.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $6,187 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (655.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,497/mo
South Gate, CA
Pros
20% less violent crime than Modesto
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 95°F
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 56°F
Rent averages $97/mo less ($1,400 vs $1,497)
Smaller class sizes — 17.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $578,900
Violent crime (525.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (3598.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Modesto
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 105.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Modesto
Median Income
$6,187
$73,375 vs $67,188/yr
Modesto
Median Home Value
$197k less
$381,800 vs $578,900
Modesto
Summer Heat
13.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 82.0°F
South Gate
Violent Crime
20% lower
525.6 vs 655.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Modesto, CA | South Gate, 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 | $578,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,497⚠ High | $1,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,375 ✓ Higher | $67,188 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.4 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 150⚠ High ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 173⚠ High | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (65) | C- (72) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.8:1 | 17.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.7% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| High School or Higher | 83.6% ✓ Higher | 58.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Modesto City Elementary | Westbrook Academy District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.1°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.3" ✓ Drier | 14.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 218,308 ✓ Larger | 92,381 |
| Median Age | 34.9 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.7% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 24.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Modesto's cost of living index is 105.0 vs South Gate's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Modesto is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Modesto leads 17 of 22 categories. Modesto wins 17 and South Gate wins 5. 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 South Gate or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($381,800 vs $578,900 median home), income ($73,375 vs $67,188), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Modesto, CA and South Gate, CA are about 300 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.