Is Modesto cheaper than Denver?

Yes. Typical rent in Modesto is $1,758 a month versus $2,089 in Denver — 16% cheaper. Median household income is $73,375 in Modesto compared with $85,853 in Denver, so Denver has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Modesto or Denver?

Modesto is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 122 versus 137 in Denver — 11% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Modesto or Denver?

School composites are close: A- in Modesto and A- in Denver. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

Modesto, CA vs Denver, CO

Modesto, CA versus Denver, CO is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,758 a month in Modesto and $2,089 in Denver, and median household income lands at $73,375 versus $85,853. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Modesto takes affordability and safety, while Denver takes job market and weather. The widest gap is median income, where Denver leads by 17% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Modesto can feel further apart than Modesto and Denver do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Modesto and Denver reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Modesto report Full Denver report

Modesto, CA

Rent: $1,758/mo
Median income: $73,375
Crime index: 122
Schools: A-
Weather: 85°F

Denver, CO

Rent: $2,089/mo
Median income: $85,853
Crime index: 137
Schools: A-
Weather: 82°F

Rent

16% cheaper

Modesto rent is 16% cheaper than Denver

Modesto

Winner

$1,758/mo

Denver

$2,089/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,758 a month in Modesto versus $2,089 in Denver, so Modesto is 16% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $3,972 — enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Modesto still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Denver.

Median income

17% higher

Denver's median income is 17% higher than Modesto

Modesto

$73,375

Denver

Winner

$85,853

What this means for your life

Median household income is $85,853 in Denver versus $73,375 in Modesto, so typical pay runs 17% higher in Denver — about $12,478 more household income a year. Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Denver is the stronger labor market on paper. Modesto can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.

Crime index

11% lower crime

Modesto's crime index is 11% lower than Denver

Modesto

Winner

122 (100 = avg)

Denver

137 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Modesto's crime index is 122 versus 137 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 11% lower in Modesto. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Modesto, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Denver. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.

School scores

Neck and neck

Modesto and Denver are about even on school scores.

Modesto

A- · 84/100

Denver

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Modesto, A- in Denver). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

11% more comfortable

Denver weather is 11% more comfortable than Modesto

Modesto

85°F typical

Denver

Winner

82°F typical

What this means for your life

Denver scores 11% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 85°F in Modesto and 82°F in Denver. Modesto reads as hot, long summers; Denver reads as hot, long summers. The comfort edge is real but not a personality transplant. If you already know you want Modesto's season, a modest index lead should not talk you out of it. If you are undecided, Denver is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Fit check

Who should choose Modesto

Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy

Modesto is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 16% cheaper here at about $1,758 a month. Choose Modesto if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Modesto is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 11% lower than Denver (122 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.

Open the Modesto report →

Fit check

Who should choose Denver

Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access

It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 17% higher ($85,853), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 82°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Open the Denver report →

Bottom line

Modesto vs Denver, called

If the job market is your priority, Denver is the clear choice.

If cost of living matters more to you, Modesto pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Modesto offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Modesto vs Denver FAQ

Is Modesto cheaper than Denver?: Yes. Typical rent in Modesto is $1,758 a month versus $2,089 in Denver — 16% cheaper. Median household income is $73,375 in Modesto compared with $85,853 in Denver, so Denver has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Modesto or Denver?: Modesto is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 122 versus 137 in Denver — 11% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Modesto or Denver?: School composites are close: A- in Modesto and A- in Denver. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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