Houston, TX vs Modesto, CA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Houston
72.1
#926 nationally
Modesto
64.2
#1712 nationally
Houston leads in cost of living index (96 vs 130). Modesto leads in median household income ($73,375 vs $57,791). Houston leads in average commute (28.5 min vs 29.4 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Houston, TX | Modesto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.1 (#926) | 64.2 (#1712) |
| Population | 2,314,157 | 218,915 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $263,563 | $447,153 |
| Median Household Income | $57,791 | $73,375 |
| Average Commute | 28.5 min | 29.4 min |
| Walk Score | 48 | 48 |
| Crime Level | Moderate-High | 18.0 |
| School Rating | 5.5 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 96 | 130 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+5.5 | R+11.0 |
C-
72.1 Score
Houston, TX
Space City with global energy
Median Home
$263,563
Population
2,314,157
Crime
Moderate-High
Schools
C
Southwest
View Houston, TX →
D
64.2 Score
Modesto, CA
Growing California city with expanding opportunities
Median Home
$447,153
Population
218,915
Crime
High
Walk Score
48
Pacific
View Modesto, CA →