Median Age
37 Years
Largest Age Group
30-39 Years
Approximately 14% of Residents
Under 20
27%
Over 65
16%
Modesto, CA
Area Guide
Avg Rent
$1,480
Population
218,644
Renter Mix
44% Rent
With its urban spirit and rural charm, Modesto is modestly perfect
Scenic
•
Community
•
Events
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.
Explore the City
Northwest Modesto is a large neighborhood sprinkled with trees.
Wide tree-lined streets are a feature of Northwest Modesto.
Many small businesses occupy strip-malls in Northwest Modesto.
Northwest Modesto is served by several bus lines.
Get all your personal needs at Vintage Faire Mall in Northwest Modesto.
The city has many produce markets, farm-to-table restaurants.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$74,876
Average: $95,961
Education
37,354
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
98,251
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Modesto has more homeowners than renters.
Renters
44%
Non-Renters
56%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
13%
Other Education
87%
Rent Trends
As of May 2026, the average apartment rent in Modesto, CA is $1,213 for a studio, $1,469 for one bedroom, $1,792 for two bedrooms, and $2,224 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Modesto has decreased by -1.2% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,469/month
650 Sq Ft
House
$2,195/month
1,146 Sq Ft
Cost of Living
The cost of living in Modesto, CA is 8.3% higher than the national average. Generally, housing in Modesto is 0.5% more expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $1,213 - $2,224. You can expect to pay 1.0% less for groceries, 59.3% more for utilities, and 29.1% more for transportation.
Compare Cities
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Modesto, CA is for everyday living.
Fairly Walkable
Walkability
40
/ 100
Limited Public Transit
Transit
20
/ 100
Exceptionally Drivable
Drivability
100
/ 100
Fairly Bikeable
Bikeability
40
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades K-5
395 Students
Public
Grades K-5
395 Students
Public
Grades K-5
385 Students
Public
Grades K-5
385 Students
Public
Grades K-5
786 Students
Public
Grades K-12
519 Students
Public
Grades K-8
59 Students
Elizabeth Ustach Middle School
Public
Grades 6-8
1,016 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
947 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
947 Students
Public
Grades K-12
519 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
2,346 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
2,346 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
2,304 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
2,304 Students
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Military Bases
Airports
- Stockton Metro
Top Apartments in Modesto
Houses for Rent in Modesto
Property Management Companies in Modesto, CA
CONAM Management Corporation
-
172
Communities
-
30,166
Units
-
86
Cities
6 Communities in Modesto
Winn Companies
-
155
Communities
-
26,690
Units
-
113
Cities
3 Communities in Modesto
DGE Investments
-
48
Communities
-
8,541
Units
-
19
Cities
2 Communities in Modesto
Quantum Residential, Inc.
-
16
Communities
-
2,060
Units
-
9
Cities
2 Communities in Modesto
AMC
-
610
Communities
-
122,185
Units
-
245
Cities
1 Community in Modesto
American Capital Group
-
26
Communities
-
5,703
Units
-
19
Cities
1 Community in Modesto
Living in Modesto
Search Nearby Rentals
Nearby Neighborhood Rentals
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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 February 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.