Modesto is a big city located in the state of California. The city has a population of 208,512 inhabitants. Modesto has a population density of 4,853 people per square mile. This would be considered well above the national population density level. If we look at the most recent Census, Modesto is known to have a predominantly White population. The next two most common races are Asian and Black. Additionally, more than a quarter of the population of Modesto are of Hispanic or Latino origin, and 25% of the population also speak Spanish.
If you’re considering moving to any new city, it could be a very discouraging task. However, it could also be a positive experience if you are willing to get to know the city before actually living in Modesto, California. 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, weather, housing and other important metrics.
Modesto, CA receives 61/100 for its livability score; this results in a ranking of #938 in California and #22,531 in the USA. There are seven total categories that generate the livability score. Modesto ranks well for amenities (A+) and weather (B+). Modesto does not score well for the following: crime (F), cost of living (D-), education (F) and employment (F). It might be a good idea to take a closer look at each category to find out why.
Based on the proximity of local amenities like grocery stores, restaurants, coffee shops, parks, librairies, etc., Modesto has received a higher than average score for its local amenities. If you’re planning on relocating and making this area your permanent home, it’s nice to know that there is an ample amount of amenities and things to do within walking distance or a short drive. Some of the interesting things to do and attractions include: Gallo Center for the Arts, Modesto Arch, and McHenry Mansion.
Assuming that Modesto meets all of your requirements, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Modesto. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Modesto are simply unattainable. The median home price for Modesto homes is $208,000, which is 49.2% lower than the California average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Modesto, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 4.1, which is 35.9% lower than the California average. Year over year appreciation rates for homes in the Modesto area were 7.6% and the 5 year appreciation rates came in at 14.1%. Why is this important? Knowing the appreciation rates for any area is a quick and easy way to determine if you will see a solid return on your investment.
| Statistic | Modesto | California | National |
| Average one way commute | 27min | 28min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 80.2% | 73.5% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 10.9% | 10.6% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 1.6% | 5.2% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.6% | 1.1% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 1.3% | 2.7% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 4.3% | 5.4% | 4.6% |
| Walk | Bike | Compact | Car | S.U.V. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Distance | |||||
| Duration | |||||
| Cost/Month |
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