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Modesto, CA

West Modesto is part of the Modesto area. This page covers the whole metro.

Everyday life
Shops, cafes, and daily routines
Hobbies & activities
Trails, parks, and pastimes
Nearby scenery
Lakes, overlooks, and drives

Photos and reviews come from Google Maps and show single places, not the whole area. Reviews are the most relevant ones Google returns for each place. We show the longest highly rated review under 400 characters and, when there is one, the longest low-rated review. Google doesn't verify reviews but removes fake ones when it finds them.

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Where it is
Modesto
Modesto in California
California in the U.S.
State outlines: U.S. Census Bureau.

What's nearby

Within 5 miles of the center of the Modesto area.

29
grocery stores
142
restaurants
36
coffee shops
101
parks
105
playgrounds
5
libraries
2
movie theaters
5
live theaters
4
museums
8
bookstores
14
gyms
16
bars
5
pharmacies
6
hospitals

Counts from OpenStreetMap, a volunteer map, so small or new places can be missing. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

What rent costs

Of about 65,412 rented homes in the Modesto area, 78% rent for under $2,000 a month and 98% for under $3,000.

Under $1,000: 18%
$1,000 to $1,499: 31%
$1,500 to $1,999: 30%
$2,000 to $2,499: 15%
$2,500 to $2,999: 4%
$3,000 or more: 2%

Census American Community Survey 2019 to 2023 (table B25063). Gross rent includes utilities the renter pays. Today's asking rents for open apartments usually run higher.

Public schools

25 public school districts in this county, with about 100,633 students in all. Which one serves a home depends on its address.

Modesto City High · Modesto
15,579 students · 24.5 students per teacher · 8 schools · grades 6 to 12
Modesto City Elementary · Modesto
14,049 students · 22.1 students per teacher · 26 schools · grades K to 12
Sylvan Union Elementary · Modesto
7,972 students · 21.5 students per teacher · 13 schools · grades K to 8
Stanislaus Union Elementary · Modesto
3,392 students · 22.6 students per teacher · 6 schools · grades K to 8
Empire Union Elementary · Modesto
2,875 students · 23.2 students per teacher · 6 schools · grades K to 8

NCES Common Core of Data 2022-23, National Center for Education Statistics. Varro doesn't rate or rank schools. For test results and programs, see each district's site and your state's school report card.

The facts behind it
Typical home value
$463,691
What a typical home sells for across the Modesto area.
Source: Zillow Home Value Index, August 2026
Cost of living
About 4% above the U.S. average
Everyday prices (rent, groceries, services) run about $104 here for what costs $100 nationally.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis price index 104.1 (U.S. = 100), 2024
Drive to the nearest big job hub
About 1 hr 53 min at rush hour
To downtown San Jose, CA, 87 miles. About 1 hr 35 min with no traffic.
Source: Google traffic estimate for a weekday morning around 8am
Average commute
31 minutes one way
How long residents' trips to work take on average, counting every job and way of getting there. U.S. average: about 27 minutes.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Data centers nearby
1 within 15 miles
The nearest is about 6.5 miles from the town center (Yosemite Community College District). The largest is about 6,000 sq ft.
Source: PNNL IM3 Data Center Atlas, from OpenStreetMap (ODbL), loaded July 2026
Homeowners insurance
About $1,616 a year
The statewide average for a typical policy in CA. Your own quote will depend on the home.
Source: Statewide estimate, 2026
Natural disaster risk
Relatively High
FEMA's overall rating for the county, covering floods, storms, wildfire, earthquakes and more.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Unemployment
7.2%
The share of people looking for work who can't find it, averaged over the year. U.S.: about 4%.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025
Median household income
$79,661
Half of households in the county earn more than this, half earn less.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Property tax
0.71% of home value a year
About $710 a year for every $100,000 of home value.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
State income tax
Graduated, up to 13.30%
CA's state income tax. Some cities and counties add their own.
Source: 2026

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