Modesto

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Modesto, CA

Area Guide

With its urban spirit and rural charm, Modesto is modestly perfect

Scenic Community Events Great Schools Artistic Agriculture

Nestled in California's Central Valley, Modesto combines city living with agricultural heritage. This city of over 218,000 residents features tree-lined streets showcasing housing options from historic bungalows in the Graceada Park neighborhood to newer residential communities throughout the area. The rental market remains steady, with one-bedroom apartments averaging $1,488 monthly, showing a modest year-over-year increase of 1.8%.

Residents enjoy outdoor recreation at several parks, including the historic Graceada Park, designed by John McLaren, who also designed San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. Downtown Modesto features the Gallo Center for the Arts, local shops, and restaurants highlighting locally grown ingredients.

The city's cultural scene reflects its agricultural foundation, with E & J Gallo Winery operating as one of the area's major employers. Stanislaus County ranks sixth among California counties in farm production, supporting a thriving local food scene. Modesto's connection to cinema history runs deep as the hometown of filmmaker George Lucas, who featured the city's car culture in "American Graffiti." This automotive heritage lives on through the Historic Cruise Route along 10th and 11th Streets. The monthly Art Walk and Downtown summer concert series contribute to the city's cultural offerings.

Modesto's neighborhoods range from established historic districts to newer residential areas, all offering access to the city's amenities and employment centers.

Rent Trends

As of November 2025, the average apartment rent in Modesto, CA is $1,156 for a studio, $1,473 for one bedroom, $1,753 for two bedrooms, and $2,174 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Modesto has increased by 0.7% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,473/month
650 Sq Ft
House
$2,304/month
1,298 Sq Ft
Townhome
$1,848/month
913 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Modesto, CA

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Modesto, CA is 39.0% higher than the national average. Generally, housing in Modesto is 87.7% more expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $1,156 - $2,171. You can expect to pay 16.9% more for groceries, 34.6% more for utilities, and 29.2% more for transportation.

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Transportation

58

Somewhat Walkable

out of 100 WalkScore® Rating

You might be able to get out and walk when living in this area. Some errands can be accomplished on foot, but for others you’ll need a car.

28

Some Transit

out of 100 TransitScore® Rating

You'll likely want a car when living in this area since it has few transit options.

51

Bikeable

out of 100 BikeScore® Rating

While there’s some bike infrastructure in this area, you’ll still need a car for many errands.

Schools

Paradise Elementary

Public

Grades K-8

71 Students

Sonoma Elementary

Public

Grades K-6

463 Students

El Vista Elementary

Public

Grades K-6

440 Students

Freedom Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

661 Students

Mary Lou Dieterich Elementary

Public

Grades K-6

537 Students

Paradise Elementary

Public

Grades K-8

71 Students

Elizabeth Ustach Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

1,008 Students

Daniel J. Savage Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

863 Students

Hart-Ransom Elementary

Public

Grades K-8

737 Students

Roosevelt Junior High

Public

Grades 7-8

777 Students

James C. Enochs High

Public

Grades 9-12

2,420 Students

Joseph A. Gregori High

Public

Grades 9-12

2,332 Students

Fred C. Beyer High

Public

Grades 9-12

1,575 Students

Modesto High

Public

Grades 9-12

2,516 Students

Thomas Downey High

Public

Grades 9-12

2,145 Students

Points of Interest

Top Apartments in Modesto

Houses for Rent in Modesto

Property Management Companies in Modesto, CA

Living in Modesto

Restaurants

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Galletto Ristorante a fine-dining Italian restaurant serving local ingredients that represents rustic Italy. It is one of the pricier restaurants in the area.

Tresetti’s World Caffe is a lunch and dinner favorite among locals because of the great food and friendly atmosphere. The small layout makes for a cozy setting and that is inviting.

Transportation

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Highway 99 runs through Modesto, which makes it convenient for commuters who travel toward Sacramento or the Bay Area for work. Congestion is not as progressed as the bumper-to-bumper hold ups in the Los Angeles area, however; delays do sometimes slow commuting.

In addition to easily accessible freeway access, residents have the option of using public transportation. The Modesto Area Max busing system offers a variety of services to those who rely on public transportation. The Greyhound Bus station is also located in the downtown area and offers bus trips for people who are looking for transportation outside the area. This is a great alternative to flying and price of airline tickets.

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Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in November 2025.