Population

Modesto

218,614

Lancaster

170,013

Median Income

Modesto

$77,899

Lancaster

$76,083

Home Value

Modesto

$415,600

Lancaster

$409,100

Rent

Modesto

$1,609

Lancaster

$1,696

Crime Rate

Modesto

6.56

Lancaster

8.35

Cost of Living

Modesto

139.7

Lancaster

143.1

Avg Temp

Modesto

N/A

Lancaster

N/A

Unemployment

Modesto

7.3%

Lancaster

7.2%

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How Similar Are Modesto & Lancaster?

Lancaster is Modesto's #10 most similar city

5/10

5 of 10 key metrics match within 10%

Population

👥

Modesto

218,614

vs

Lancaster

170,013

Different · 22% difference

Modesto has a 22% larger population than Lancaster.

Violent Crime

Modesto

6.56

vs

Lancaster

8.35

Different · 21% difference
🚨

Lancaster has a 21% higher violent crime than Modesto.

Property Crime

🔒

Modesto

24.15

vs

Lancaster

19.21

Different · 20% difference

Modesto has a 20% higher property crime than Lancaster.

Political Leaning

Modesto

54.2%

vs

Lancaster

31.9%

Different · 41% difference
🗳️

Modesto leans Republican while Lancaster leans Democratic.

Unemployment

💼

Modesto

7.3%

vs

Lancaster

7.2%

Match · 2% difference

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

Median Income

Modesto

$77,899

vs

Lancaster

$76,083

Match · 2% difference
💰

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

Home Values

🏠

Modesto

$415,600

vs

Lancaster

$409,100

Match · 2% difference

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

Education

Modesto

13.3%

vs

Lancaster

12.7%

Match · 5% difference
🎓

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

Demographics

🌍

Modesto

50.8%

vs

Lancaster

35.5%

Different · 30% difference

Modesto has a 30% higher demographics than Lancaster.

Cost of Living

Modesto

139.7

vs

Lancaster

143.1

Match · 2% difference
💵

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

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

At a Glance

0

Modesto

vsof 8

0

Lancaster

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 (35% lower). Modesto has a fair market rent (2br) of $1,758 vs $2,601 in Lancaster (32% lower). Modesto scores 184.4 on the housing index (100 = national avg) vs 193.9 in Lancaster.

Overall Cost Index

Modesto139.7
Lancaster143.1

Housing Index

Modesto184.4
Lancaster193.9

Food Index

Modesto109.5
Lancaster108.2

Transportation Index

Modesto119.1
Lancaster123.5

Healthcare Index

Modesto107.6
Lancaster106.5

Utilities Index

Modesto122.6
Lancaster123.7

Living Wage (1 Adult)

Modesto$61,476
Lancaster$62,966

Living Wage (Family of 4)

Modesto$145,306
Lancaster$148,828

Fair Market Rent (1BR)

Modesto$1,356
Lancaster$2,085

Fair Market Rent (2BR)

Modesto$1,758
Lancaster$2,601

Housing Market — Modesto leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Modesto has a median property tax of $2,727 vs $3,685 in Lancaster (26% 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

Modesto$415,600
Lancaster$409,100

Median Rent

Modesto$1,609
Lancaster$1,696

Median Property Tax

Modesto$2,727
Lancaster$3,685

Owner-Occupied

Modesto58.4%
Lancaster58.4%

Vacancy Rate

Modesto4.1%
Lancaster5.2%

Single-Family Homes

Modesto77.5%
Lancaster72.0%

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 government sector of 44.3% compared to 37.8% in Lancaster.

Median Household Income

Modesto$77,899
Lancaster$76,083

Per Capita Income

Modesto$34,656
Lancaster$29,766

Poverty Rate

Modesto13.0%
Lancaster15.5%

Unemployment Rate

Modesto7.3%
Lancaster7.2%

Labor Force

Modesto103,220
Lancaster71,275

Mean Commute

ModestoN/A
Lancaster29 min

Work from Home

Modesto7.3%
Lancaster9.4%

Private Sector

Modesto95.6%
Lancaster87.2%

Government Sector

Modesto44.3%
Lancaster37.8%

Crime & Safety — Modesto leads

Source: FBI UCR

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

Violent Crime Rate (per 1K)

Modesto6.56
Lancaster8.35

Property Crime Rate (per 1K)

Modesto24.15
Lancaster19.21

Murder Rate (per 1K)

Modesto0.03
Lancaster0.18

Robbery Rate (per 1K)

Modesto1.13
Lancaster1.72

Assault Rate (per 1K)

Modesto4.83
Lancaster5.98

Burglary Rate (per 1K)

Modesto2.67
Lancaster3.85

Larceny Rate (per 1K)

Modesto18.19
Lancaster6.83

Violent Crime Clearance

Modesto64.8%
Lancaster59.0%

Property Crime Clearance

Modesto11.1%
Lancaster12.5%

Weather & Climate

Source: NOAA / Open-Meteo

Avg Annual Temperature

ModestoN/A
LancasterN/A

Avg Annual High

ModestoN/A
LancasterN/A

Avg Annual Low

ModestoN/A
LancasterN/A

Sunny Days per Year

ModestoN/A
LancasterN/A

Annual Rainfall

ModestoN/A
LancasterN/A

Annual Snowfall

ModestoN/A
LancasterN/A

Avg Humidity

ModestoN/A
LancasterN/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

Modesto0
Lancaster0

Avg Student-Teacher Ratio

ModestoN/A
LancasterN/A

Colleges & Universities

Modesto0
Lancaster0

Bachelor's Degree or Higher

Modesto13.3%
Lancaster12.7%

High School Diploma or Higher

Modesto32.3%
Lancaster31.4%

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

Modesto218,614
Lancaster170,013

Median Age

Modesto35
Lancaster34

Avg Household Size

Modesto3.0
Lancaster3.2

Married Population

Modesto36.7%
Lancaster33.0%

Foreign Born

Modesto18.7%
Lancaster13.9%

White

Modesto50.8%
Lancaster35.5%

Black

Modesto4.7%
Lancaster21.4%

Hispanic

Modesto43.9%
Lancaster45.9%

Asian

Modesto7.4%
Lancaster4.0%

Modesto

Lancaster

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

Modesto5
Lancaster5

Avg CMS Rating (out of 5)

Modesto2.3
Lancaster2.8

With Emergency Services

Modesto4
Lancaster5

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

ModestoN/A
Lancaster29 min

Drive Alone

Modesto76.6%
Lancaster74.8%

Public Transit

Modesto1.1%
Lancaster1.3%

Bicycle

Modesto0.8%
Lancaster0.4%

Work from Home

Modesto7.3%
Lancaster9.4%

Airports

Modesto0
Lancaster0

Cities Similar to Modesto, CA

Compare Modesto 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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