Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Modesto, CA
VS
St. George, UT
🏆 St. George leads 16 of 23 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
St. George
Utah
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,333
Violent Crime Index
55 ✓ Safer
Population
96,174
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Modesto, CA
Pros
Homes cost $33k less ($381,800 vs $415,200)
Cooler summers — July highs near 95°F vs 102°F
Households earn $4,042 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
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 3.3%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than St. George
St. George, UT
Pros
68% less violent crime than Modesto
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.5 pts lower (3.3%)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (210.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 32.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $162/mo less ($1,335 vs $1,497)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $415,200
Hot summers — July highs average 102°F
Median income trails Modesto by $4,042/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Modesto
Median Income
$4,042
$73,375 vs $69,333/yr
Modesto
Median Home Value
$33k less
$381,800 vs $415,200
St. George
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
St. George
Violent Crime
68% lower
210.0 vs 655.7 per 100k
St. George
Unemployment
4.5 pp lower
3.3% vs 7.8% unemployment
St. George
Summer Heat
6.9°F warmer
July avg high 101.9°F vs 95.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Modesto, CA | St. George, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.0⚠ High | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $381,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $415,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,497⚠ High | $1,335⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,375 ✓ Higher | $69,333 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.8%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.4 min⚠ High | 16.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 150⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 173⚠ High | 55 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (65) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.7% | 32.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.6% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Modesto City Elementary | Washington District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.1°F ✓ Warmer | 54.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.0°F | 101.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.3" | 9.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 218,308 ✓ Larger | 96,174 |
| Median Age | 34.9 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.7% | 67.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 25.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Modesto's cost of living index is 105.0 vs St. George's 96.1 (US average = 100).
St. George is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. George leads 16 of 23 categories. Modesto wins 7 and St. George 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 St. George or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($381,800 vs $415,200 median home), income ($73,375 vs $69,333), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Modesto, CA and St. George, UT are about 410 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.