Modesto, CA — City Profile & Demographics 2026
Population 218,614 · California · Updated May 2026
Population
218,614
Median Income
$77,899
Home Price
$447,353
Unemployment
7.3%
Poverty Rate
13.0%
Bachelor's+
20.3%
Full Demographics — Modesto, CA
27 metrics across 8 categories, compared to US national averages.
Demographics
| Metric | Modesto, CA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 218,614 | — | |
| Pop. Density / sq mi | N/A | — | |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 38.9 | |
| Foreign Born | 18.7% | 13.8% | |
| White | 50.8% | 61.6% | |
| Black | 4.7% | 12.4% | |
| Asian | 7.4% | 6.0% | |
| Hispanic | 43.9% | 18.7% | |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | 13.2% |
Economy
| Metric | Modesto, CA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $77,899 | $74,580 | |
| Per Capita Income | $34,656 | $40,480 | |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $77,230 | $64,500 | |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.3% | 3.8% | |
| Poverty Rate | 13.0% | 11.5% | |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 20.3% | 35.8% |
Housing
Source: Zillow ZHVI, Census ACS
| Metric | Modesto, CA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $447,353 | $410,000 | |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.4% | 65.4% |
Safety
| Metric | Modesto, CA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 503 | 380 | |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 2388 | 1950 |
Health
| Metric | Modesto, CA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 36.2% | 33.0% | |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 12.1% | 11.6% | |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 19.0% | 14.0% | |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 13.0% | 9.6% | |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 16.5% | 15.5% | |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 13.7% | 12.5% |
Climate
| Metric | Modesto, CA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 63.7°F | 54.5°F | |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 13.1 in | 30.2 in |
Air Quality
| Metric | Modesto, CA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 7.9 µg/m³ | 8.5 µg/m³ | |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 75.0% | 70.0% |
Commute
| Metric | Modesto, CA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 30.5 min | 27.0 min |
Compare Modesto with Another City
Popular Comparisons
Modesto vs New YorkLos Angeles vs ModestoChicago vs ModestoHouston vs ModestoModesto vs PhoenixModesto vs PhiladelphiaModesto vs San AntonioModesto vs San DiegoDallas vs ModestoModesto vs San Jose
About Modesto, CA
Modesto is a city in California, United States. With a population of 218,614, it is one of the notable cities in the region. Compared to the US average, Modesto shows stronger air quality (75% good air days vs 70% good air days US avg). However, the city has a higher educational attainment at 20.3% bachelor's degree, compared to the US average of 35.8% bachelor's degree. Data sourced from US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Survey (2023), CDC PLACES, FBI CDE, NOAA, and EPA.