Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Modesto, CA
VS
Yakima, WA
🏆 Yakima leads 12 of 23 categories
Modesto
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,375 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High
Population
218,308 ✓ Larger
Yakima
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,734
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,764
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Modesto, CA
Pros
Households earn $17,641 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $381,800
Higher rents — median is $1,497/mo
Violent crime (655.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Longer commutes — 29.4 min average each way
Yakima, WA
Pros
Homes cost $139k less ($243,300 vs $381,800)
Rent averages $483/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,497)
17% less violent crime than Modesto
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (544.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Modesto by $17,641/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Modesto
Median Income
$17,641
$73,375 vs $55,734/yr
Modesto
Summer Heat
6.7°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 88.3°F
Yakima
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 101.6 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Yakima
Violent Crime
17% lower
544.3 vs 655.7 per 100k
Yakima
Median Home Value
$139k less
$243,300 vs $381,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Modesto, CA | Yakima, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.0⚠ High | 101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $381,800⚠ High | $243,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,497⚠ High | $1,014 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,375 ✓ Higher | $55,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.4 min⚠ High | 17.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% ✓ Higher | 5.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 150⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 173⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (65) | C (79) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.8:1 | 17.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.7% ✓ Higher | 19.3% |
| High School or Higher | 83.6% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Modesto City Elementary | Yakima School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.1°F ✓ Warmer | 39.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer | 88.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.3" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 20.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 218,308 ✓ Larger | 96,764 |
| Median Age | 34.9 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.7% ✓ Higher | 53.1% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Modesto's cost of living index is 105.0 vs Yakima's 101.6 (US average = 100).
Yakima is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Yakima leads 12 of 23 categories. Modesto wins 11 and Yakima wins 12. 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 Yakima or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($381,800 vs $243,300 median home), income ($73,375 vs $55,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Modesto, CA and Yakima, WA are about 619 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.