Modesto, CA, known as 'Water Wealth Contentment Health,' offers a unique blend of historic charm and modern urban amenities. Located in the Central Valley of California, Modesto is a large city that serves as a major cultural and economic hub. Major nearby cities like Stockton and Merced enhance its status as a central point in the region. Modesto's blend of historic landmarks, cultural festivals, and urban amenities creates a distinctive living experience.
Modesto is home to several iconic landmarks, including the McHenry Mansion, the historic Gallo Center for the Arts, and the scenic Graceada Park. The city offers a variety of attractions, from the beautiful Tuolumne River Regional Park to the bustling Vintage Faire Mall, known for its shopping and dining. Modesto's dining scene is diverse, offering everything from farm-to-table cuisine to international dishes.
Annual events such as the Modesto International Architecture Festival and the Modesto Greek Food Festival highlight the city's vibrant cultural scene and provide unique entertainment opportunities for residents and visitors. These events celebrate Modesto's rich cultural heritage and community spirit. Prestigious institutions like Modesto Junior College contribute to the city's academic and cultural vibrancy, fostering a thriving intellectual community.
The arts and culture scene in Modesto is dynamic and diverse, with numerous theaters, music venues, and art galleries. The State Theatre and the Mistlin Gallery are just a few of the cultural landmarks that showcase the city's commitment to the arts. Living in Modesto provides ample opportunities to engage with art, music, and history, making it an exciting place to call home.
Modesto’s community is welcoming and diverse, creating a friendly environment for newcomers. The city is home to professional sports teams like the Modesto Nuts (MiLB), providing plenty of excitement for sports fans. Major industries in Modesto include agriculture, healthcare, and education, with significant employers such as E. & J. Gallo Winery and Doctors Medical Center driving economic growth. The city has extensive public transit options, including buses and bike-sharing programs, making commuting convenient and sustainable.
Housing
The housing category in this area boasts higher than average scores, likely influenced by a positive home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.
Cost Of Living
Residents of this area contend with a high cost of living, resulting in increased expenditures for everyday goods and services, housing, utilities and health care.
Crime
High crime rates per 100,000 people are reported in this area, potentially indicating that it is an unsafe place to live. These statistics consider both violent and property offenses.
Modesto is a highly populated city located in the state of California. The city has a population of 214,485 residents. With a population density of 4,983 people per square mile, Modesto is well above the nation's average density level. If we take a look at the last Census, the vast majority of the population falls within one racial group (68% White). Given that fact, Modesto could be considered less diverse than other cities. Additionally, more than a quarter of the population of Modesto are of Hispanic or Latino origin, and 27% of the population also speak Spanish. Long commute times to work can be incredibly frustrating, ranking just behind housework on the list of life's annoyances. If you opt to make Modesto your home, your one-way commute time will typically last around 29 minutes, a duration that aligns with the national average commute time of 26 minutes.
Living in Modesto can be a positive experience for anyone moving to the area. Having said that, in the state of California, there are many incredible places to live, so choose wisely! When searching for a new neighborhood, several factors play a vital role in determining its suitability. Safety should be a top priority, ensuring a secure environment with low crime rates. Proximity to your workplace or school helps minimize commuting time and allows for a better work-life balance. Availability of essential amenities such as parks, coffee shops, restaurants, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities contributes to convenience and well-being. Access to reliable public transportation options facilitates easy commuting and connectivity. Additionally, considering the sense of community and the overall atmosphere that resonates with your lifestyle and preferences fosters a harmonious living experience. Finding the best places to live in Modesto and nearby areas is a much easier task when you can rely on information and data from the livability score, which includes cost of living, commute, health & safety and other important metrics.
Modesto has a livability score of 67 out of 100 and is ranked #322 in California and #8,944 in the USA. If we take a closer look at each of the categories individually, we see that Modesto ranks well for education (B+) and housing (A+). Regrettably for Modesto, there are some categories for which it does not score well, this includes: crime (F) and cost of living (F).
A robust real estate market serves as a crucial economic indicator, reflecting the local area's strength, stability and the confidence of its residents. Modesto excels in the housing sector, scoring high marks based on factors such as median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability. These calculations suggest that the apartment rental and real estate market in the region is exceptionally healthy, highlighting the area's economic vitality and attractiveness to potential homebuyers and renters.
Certain items on your wish list like shopping, restaurants, nightlife, parks and proximity to public transportation are all important things to look for. Having said that, perhaps the most important metric to consider when contemplating a move to Modesto is real estate affordability. Median real estate prices in Modesto come in at $300,700, which is 26.5% lower than the California average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Modesto, the home price to income ratio is 4.8, which is 25% lower than the California average.
| Statistic | Modesto | California | National |
| Average one way commute | 29min | 28min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 80.9% | 73.5% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 10.1% | 10.6% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 1.0% | 5.2% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.7% | 1.1% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 1.0% | 2.7% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 5.6% | 5.4% | 4.6% |
Here are the best places to live in California
Safest Cities In The US
Check out the 10 safest cities in California
Most Dangerous States In The US