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Economy, jobs and prices in Modesto, California: official figures

The median household income in Modesto was $79,891 a year in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey (in 2024 dollars), 401st lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US median was $80,734 and the California median $99,122.

Median household income
$79,891
2020-2024
Unemployment rate (ACS)
7.2%
2020-2024
Mean travel time to work
30.2 min
2020-2024
Median gross rent (monthly)
$1,690
2020-2024
Median home value (owner-occupied)
$442,700
2020-2024
Homes occupied by their owners
58.9%
2020-2024
Households with a broadband subscription
92.1%
2020-2024

What is the per capita income in Modesto?

Income per resident (per capita income) in Modesto averaged $35,523 a year in 2020-2024, 260th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $44,673; California: $49,513).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How unequal are incomes in Modesto?

Modesto's Gini index of household income inequality was 0.441 in 2020-2024 (0 means equal incomes, 1 maximum inequality), 367th least unequal of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US figure was 0.483.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the unemployment rate in Modesto, California?

7.2% of the civilian labor force in Modesto was unemployed on average over 2020-2024 (7,444 people), 143rd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US rate in the same survey was 5.2% and California's 6.6%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of people in Modesto are working?

61.6% of Modesto's 167,890 residents aged 16 and over were in the labor force (working or looking for work) in 2020-2024, 167th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 63.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Modesto have jobs?

95,882 residents of Modesto held civilian jobs, 57.1% of those aged 16 and over (US: 59.7%), and 143 served in the armed forces.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What are the main industries in Modesto?

The largest industry group for working residents of Modesto was education, health care and social assistance (23.2% of employed residents), followed by manufacturing (13.0%) and retail trade (12.6%), 2020-2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Modesto work in manufacturing?

Manufacturing employed 13.0% of working residents of Modesto, 147th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 9.9%); professional, scientific and management services employed 8.6% (US: 12.6%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How long is the commute in Modesto, California?

Commuters in Modesto took 30.2 minutes on average to get to work in 2020-2024, 144th longest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 26.4 minutes); 13.7% travelled an hour or more and 28.6% less than 15 minutes.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How do people in Modesto get to work?

8.4% of workers living in Modesto worked from home in 2020-2024, 131st lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 15.1%). 74.9% drove to work alone, 11.6% carpooled, 1.6% used public transport and 1.2% walked.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the average rent in Modesto, California?

The median gross rent (rent plus utilities) in Modesto was $1,690 a month in 2020-2024, 342nd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $1,413; California: $2,036).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does a house cost in Modesto?

Owner-occupied homes in Modesto had a median value of $442,700 in 2020-2024 as estimated by their owners, 335th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $332,700; California: $734,700).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How affordable are homes in Modesto?

The median home value in Modesto was 5.5 times the median household income, 279th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 4.1 times).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of people in Modesto, California own their home?

58.9% of the 72,989 occupied homes in Modesto were lived in by their owners in 2020-2024 and 30,016 were rented, 389th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more for home ownership (US: 65.2%; California: 55.9%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of homes in Modesto have broadband?

92.1% of households in Modesto had a broadband internet subscription of some type in 2020-2024, 366th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 91.0%; California: 93.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many households in Modesto have no internet?

5.4% of households in Modesto (3,965) had no internet access at home in 2020-2024, 342nd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.5%); 12.5% relied on a cellular data plan alone (US: 11.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Modesto compares with other cities in the United States

Median household income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)

Modesto ranks 423 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian household income (2024 dollars)
420Montebello$79,971
421Sterling Heights$79,909
422Stockton$79,907
423Modesto$79,891
424Tempe$79,663
425North Las Vegas$79,542
426Portland$79,540
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Per capita income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)

Modesto ranks 564 of 823, highest first.

RankCityPer capita income (2024 dollars)
561High Point$35,661
562Lynn$35,598
563Indio$35,590
564Modesto$35,523
565Knoxville$35,408
566Ogden$35,383
567Wyoming$35,346
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Gini index of household income inequality (2020-2024)

Modesto ranks 457 of 823, highest first.

RankCityGini index of household income inequality
454Union City0.441
455Kannapolis0.441
456Grapevine0.441
457Modesto0.441
458Hamilton0.441
459Apple Valley0.441
460Ocoee0.441
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Unemployment rate (share of civilian labor force) (2020-2024)

Modesto ranks 143 of 823, highest first.

RankCityUnemployment rate (share of civilian labor force)
140Santa Cruz7.2%
141Savannah7.2%
142Westminster7.2%
143Modesto7.2%
144Pharr7.2%
145Yonkers7.1%
146Midwest City7.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Labor force participation rate (16 and over) (2020-2024)

Modesto ranks 657 of 823, highest first.

RankCityLabor force participation rate (16 and over)
654Grand Junction61.7%
655Novato61.7%
656Stockton61.7%
657Modesto61.6%
658Elyria61.6%
659Southfield61.6%
660Abilene61.5%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Mean travel time to work (minutes) (2020-2024)

Modesto ranks 144 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMean travel time to work (minutes)
141Lynwood30.3
142Alhambra30.3
143Surprise30.2
144Modesto30.2
145Suffolk30.2
146Medford30.2
147Livermore30.1
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Workers who worked from home (2020-2024)

Modesto ranks 693 of 823, highest first.

RankCityWorkers who worked from home
690St. Cloud8.5%
691Flint8.5%
692Clarksville8.5%
693Modesto8.4%
694Yuma8.4%
695Merced8.4%
696Brownsville8.4%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Workers commuting by public transportation (2020-2024)

Modesto ranks 319 of 823, highest first.

RankCityWorkers commuting by public transportation
316Lowell1.6%
317Kentwood1.6%
318Thornton1.6%
319Modesto1.6%
320Costa Mesa1.6%
321Portsmouth1.6%
322South Jordan1.6%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Employed residents working in manufacturing (2020-2024)

Modesto ranks 147 of 823, highest first.

RankCityEmployed residents working in manufacturing
144South Gate13.0%
145Fulshear13.0%
146Waxahachie13.0%
147Modesto13.0%
148Portsmouth12.9%
149Lynwood12.9%
150Waterbury12.8%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Employed residents in education, health care and social assistance (2020-2024)

Modesto ranks 387 of 823, highest first.

RankCityEmployed residents in education, health care and social assistance
384Colton23.3%
385Daly City23.3%
386Bellevue23.2%
387Modesto23.2%
388Blue Springs23.2%
389Cheyenne23.2%
390Apopka23.2%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median gross rent per month (2020-2024)

Modesto ranks 342 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian gross rent per month
339Tampa$1,701
340National City$1,692
341Collierville$1,691
342Modesto$1,690
343Fort Collins$1,690
344Euless$1,690
345Goose Creek$1,690
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median value of owner-occupied homes (2020-2024)

Modesto ranks 335 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian value of owner-occupied homes
332Lancaster$446,600
333Santa Fe$444,900
334Colton$443,800
335Modesto$442,700
336Stockton$440,900
337Asheville$440,000
338Atlanta$439,600
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median home value as a multiple of median household income (2020-2024)

Modesto ranks 276 of 820, highest first.

RankCityMedian home value as a multiple of median household income
273Lake Elsinore5.6x
274Turlock5.5x
275Roseville5.5x
276Modesto5.5x
277Prescott Valley5.5x
278Yucaipa5.5x
279Daytona Beach5.5x
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Occupied homes lived in by their owners (2020-2024)

Modesto ranks 389 of 823, highest first.

RankCityOccupied homes lived in by their owners
386Albany58.9%
387Hollywood58.9%
388Wichita58.9%
389Modesto58.9%
390Spokane58.8%
391Waukesha58.8%
392Frederick58.8%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Households with a broadband subscription (2020-2024)

Modesto ranks 458 of 823, highest first.

RankCityHouseholds with a broadband subscription
455Brooklyn Park92.1%
456Springfield92.1%
457Manhattan92.1%
458Modesto92.1%
459Kissimmee92.0%
460Boston92.0%
461Oklahoma City92.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Households with no internet access (2020-2024)

Modesto ranks 342 of 823, highest first.

RankCityHouseholds with no internet access
339Rogers5.5%
340Pomona5.5%
341Nashua5.5%
342Modesto5.4%
343Pittsburg5.4%
344Los Angeles5.4%
345Pensacola5.4%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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