Population

Lancaster

170,013

Modesto

218,614

Median Income

Lancaster

$76,083

Modesto

$77,899

Home Value

Lancaster

$409,100

Modesto

$415,600

Rent

Lancaster

$1,696

Modesto

$1,609

Crime Rate

Lancaster

8.35

Modesto

6.56

Cost of Living

Lancaster

143.1

Modesto

139.7

Avg Temp

Lancaster

N/A

Modesto

N/A

Unemployment

Lancaster

7.2%

Modesto

7.3%

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How Similar Are Lancaster & Modesto?

Modesto is Lancaster's #6 most similar city

5/10

5 of 10 key metrics match within 10%

Population

👥

Lancaster

170,013

vs

Modesto

218,614

Different · 22% difference

Modesto has a 22% larger population than Lancaster.

Violent Crime

Lancaster

8.35

vs

Modesto

6.56

Different · 21% difference
🚨

Lancaster has a 21% higher violent crime than Modesto.

Property Crime

🔒

Lancaster

19.21

vs

Modesto

24.15

Different · 20% difference

Modesto has a 20% higher property crime than Lancaster.

Political Leaning

Lancaster

31.9%

vs

Modesto

54.2%

Different · 41% difference
🗳️

Lancaster leans Democratic while Modesto leans Republican.

Unemployment

💼

Lancaster

7.2%

vs

Modesto

7.3%

Match · 2% difference

Both cities have similar unemployment — just a 2% difference.

Median Income

Lancaster

$76,083

vs

Modesto

$77,899

Match · 2% difference
💰

Both cities have similar median income — just a 2% difference.

Home Values

🏠

Lancaster

$409,100

vs

Modesto

$415,600

Match · 2% difference

Both cities have similar home values — just a 2% difference.

Education

Lancaster

12.7%

vs

Modesto

13.3%

Match · 5% difference
🎓

Both cities have similar education — just a 5% difference.

Demographics

🌍

Lancaster

35.5%

vs

Modesto

50.8%

Different · 30% difference

Modesto has a 30% higher demographics than Lancaster.

Cost of Living

Lancaster

143.1

vs

Modesto

139.7

Match · 2% difference
💵

Both cities have similar cost of living — just a 2% difference.

5 out of 10 key metrics match within 10%. Lancaster and Modesto share several key characteristics.

At a Glance

0

Lancaster

vsof 8

0

Modesto

Modesto leads in 5 of 8 categories

Cost of Living & Affordability — Modesto leads

Source: City Stats Index / HUD

Modesto has a fair market rent (1br) of $1,356 vs $2,085 in Lancaster (54% lower). Modesto has a fair market rent (2br) of $1,758 vs $2,601 in Lancaster (48% lower). Modesto scores 184.4 on the housing index (100 = national avg) vs 193.9 in Lancaster.

Overall Cost Index

Lancaster143.1
Modesto139.7

Housing Index

Lancaster193.9
Modesto184.4

Food Index

Lancaster108.2
Modesto109.5

Transportation Index

Lancaster123.5
Modesto119.1

Healthcare Index

Lancaster106.5
Modesto107.6

Utilities Index

Lancaster123.7
Modesto122.6

Living Wage (1 Adult)

Lancaster$62,966
Modesto$61,476

Living Wage (Family of 4)

Lancaster$148,828
Modesto$145,306

Fair Market Rent (1BR)

Lancaster$2,085
Modesto$1,356

Fair Market Rent (2BR)

Lancaster$2,601
Modesto$1,758

Housing Market — Modesto leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Modesto has a median property tax of $2,727 vs $3,685 in Lancaster (35% lower). Modesto has a vacancy rate of 4.1% compared to 5.2% in Lancaster. Modesto has a single-family homes of 77.5% compared to 72.0% in Lancaster.

Median Home Value

Lancaster$409,100
Modesto$415,600

Median Rent

Lancaster$1,696
Modesto$1,609

Median Property Tax

Lancaster$3,685
Modesto$2,727

Owner-Occupied

Lancaster58.4%
Modesto58.4%

Vacancy Rate

Lancaster5.2%
Modesto4.1%

Single-Family Homes

Lancaster72.0%
Modesto77.5%

Jobs & Economy — Modesto leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Modesto: 103,220 vs Lancaster: 71,275 for labor force. Lancaster has a work from home of 9.4% compared to 7.3% in Modesto. Modesto has a poverty rate of 13.0% compared to 15.5% in Lancaster.

Median Household Income

Lancaster$76,083
Modesto$77,899

Per Capita Income

Lancaster$29,766
Modesto$34,656

Poverty Rate

Lancaster15.5%
Modesto13.0%

Unemployment Rate

Lancaster7.2%
Modesto7.3%

Labor Force

Lancaster71,275
Modesto103,220

Mean Commute

Lancaster29 min
ModestoN/A

Work from Home

Lancaster9.4%
Modesto7.3%

Private Sector

Lancaster87.2%
Modesto95.6%

Government Sector

Lancaster37.8%
Modesto44.3%

Crime & Safety — Modesto leads

Source: FBI UCR

Modesto has a murder rate (per 1k) of 0.03 compared to 0.18 in Lancaster. Lancaster has a larceny rate (per 1k) of 6.83 compared to 18.19 in Modesto. Modesto has a robbery rate (per 1k) of 1.13 compared to 1.72 in Lancaster.

Violent Crime Rate (per 1K)

Lancaster8.35
Modesto6.56

Property Crime Rate (per 1K)

Lancaster19.21
Modesto24.15

Murder Rate (per 1K)

Lancaster0.18
Modesto0.03

Robbery Rate (per 1K)

Lancaster1.72
Modesto1.13

Assault Rate (per 1K)

Lancaster5.98
Modesto4.83

Burglary Rate (per 1K)

Lancaster3.85
Modesto2.67

Larceny Rate (per 1K)

Lancaster6.83
Modesto18.19

Violent Crime Clearance

Lancaster59.0%
Modesto64.8%

Property Crime Clearance

Lancaster12.5%
Modesto11.1%

Weather & Climate

Source: NOAA / Open-Meteo

Avg Annual Temperature

LancasterN/A
ModestoN/A

Avg Annual High

LancasterN/A
ModestoN/A

Avg Annual Low

LancasterN/A
ModestoN/A

Sunny Days per Year

LancasterN/A
ModestoN/A

Annual Rainfall

LancasterN/A
ModestoN/A

Annual Snowfall

LancasterN/A
ModestoN/A

Avg Humidity

LancasterN/A
ModestoN/A

Schools & Education — Modesto leads

Source: NCES / U.S. Census Bureau

Modesto has a bachelor's degree or higher of 13.3% compared to 12.7% in Lancaster. Modesto has a high school diploma or higher of 32.3% compared to 31.4% in Lancaster.

Public Schools

Lancaster0
Modesto0

Avg Student-Teacher Ratio

LancasterN/A
ModestoN/A

Colleges & Universities

Lancaster0
Modesto0

Bachelor's Degree or Higher

Lancaster12.7%
Modesto13.3%

High School Diploma or Higher

Lancaster31.4%
Modesto32.3%

Demographics & Community

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Modesto has a population of 218,614, about 1.3x the size of Lancaster (170,013). Lancaster skews younger with a median age of 34.2 vs 35.4.

Population

Lancaster170,013
Modesto218,614

Median Age

Lancaster34
Modesto35

Avg Household Size

Lancaster3.2
Modesto3.0

Married Population

Lancaster33.0%
Modesto36.7%

Foreign Born

Lancaster13.9%
Modesto18.7%

White

Lancaster35.5%
Modesto50.8%

Black

Lancaster21.4%
Modesto4.7%

Hispanic

Lancaster45.9%
Modesto43.9%

Asian

Lancaster4.0%
Modesto7.4%

Lancaster

Modesto

Healthcare — Lancaster leads

Source: CMS Hospital Compare

Lancaster: 5 vs Modesto: 4 for with emergency services. Lancaster: 2.8 vs Modesto: 2.3 for avg cms rating (out of 5).

Nearby Hospitals

Lancaster5
Modesto5

Avg CMS Rating (out of 5)

Lancaster2.8
Modesto2.3

With Emergency Services

Lancaster5
Modesto4

Transportation & Commute

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Modesto has a bicycle of 0.8% compared to 0.4% in Lancaster. Lancaster has a work from home of 9.4% compared to 7.3% in Modesto. Lancaster has a public transit of 1.3% compared to 1.1% in Modesto.

Mean Commute Time

Lancaster29 min
ModestoN/A

Drive Alone

Lancaster74.8%
Modesto76.6%

Public Transit

Lancaster1.3%
Modesto1.1%

Bicycle

Lancaster0.4%
Modesto0.8%

Work from Home

Lancaster9.4%
Modesto7.3%

Airports

Lancaster0
Modesto0

Cities Similar to Lancaster, CA

Compare Lancaster against its closest statistical matches across demographics, income, crime, health, and more.

🧬

City Comparison

8-axis fingerprint: population, income, housing, crime, education, age, climate, and cost of living. Click legend items to toggle.

PopulationIncomeHome ValueSafetyEducationMedian AgeClimateCost of Living

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