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METRO AREA

Modesto Metro

Modesto, CA · 1 counties · 557,719 residents (2025 est.) · 1,496.15 sq mi
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#42Most foreign-born residentsof 92521.0%
The short version

Modesto has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $81,468. Population has grown 24% since 2000. 20% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than tripled since 2000, reaching $450,100. At a median age of 34.9, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. It ranks in the top 5% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 34.9
US median: 38.9
Less educated
20% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 99%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
553,990
+24%since 2000
from 446,997 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
370 / sq mi
+24%since 2000
from 299 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
34.9
+10%since 2000
from 31.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:557,719 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
352K407K462K517K572K1990201020202024Modesto
2024554K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$81,468
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $40,101 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$34,849
+106%since 2000
from $16,913 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
53.9%
+22.7 ptssince 2009
from 31.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
13.5%
−2.5 ptssince 2000
from 16.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.443
Unchangedsince 2010
from 0.441 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade12.4%
US avg: 9.9%
Information11.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade8.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance7.5%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical6.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing4.6%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction4.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Other services3.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.7%
US avg: 2.2%
Public administration2.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, food0.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$450,100
+99%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $123,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,623
+46%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $611 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
61.2%
−0.7 ptssince 2000
from 61.9% in 2000
38.8% rent
Vacancy rate
3.9%
−3.3 ptssince 2009
from 7.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
29.7%
−13.5 ptssince 2009
from 43.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
50.4%
−4.5 ptssince 2009
from 54.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
5.5
+79%since 2000
from 3.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
40
RELATED:See current rent listings in Modesto on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic57.3%(256,001)
Black2.4%(10,621)
Hispanic / Latino31.7%(141,871)
Asian4.1%(18,234)
Other0%
Diversity Score65.9%(294,527)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic36.3%(200,834)
Black2.6%(14,369)
Hispanic / Latino50%(277,207)
Asian5.9%(32,509)
Other5.2%(29,071)
Diversity Score76.4%(423,335)
Segregation Score32.1%(177,868)
Diversity Score
76
+16%since 2000
from 66 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
32
+5%since 2020
from 31 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
19.6%
+5.6 ptssince 2000
from 14.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
79.9%
+9.5 ptssince 2000
from 70.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
6.3%
+1.8 ptssince 2000
from 4.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
30.8 min
+65%since 2000
from 18.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
77.2%
−2.6 ptssince 2009
from 79.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
10.8%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 11.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.8%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.1%
+3.9 ptssince 2009
from 4.2% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.5%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.4%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.6%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 6.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
8.0%
−6.3 ptssince 2011
from 14.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
61.9%
−1.0 ptssince 2011
from 62.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
15.1%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 13.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
30.6%
−26.3 ptssince 2009
from 56.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.9%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 49.5% in 2009
Female
50.1%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 50.5% in 2009
Foreign born
21.0%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 20.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.2%
−44.6 ptssince 2009
from 48.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
12.6%
−0.4 ptssince 2012
from 13.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.6%
−76.6 ptssince 2013
from 82.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
92.1%
+12.8 ptssince 2017
from 79.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
57.0%
−2.1 ptssince 2016
from 59.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
34.1%
+1.9 ptssince 2016
from 32.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

ModestoCENTRAL219,652
What's inside

1 component county

Stanislaus CountyCENTRAL557,719
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Modesto

Harrisburg
Pop 617,427
Huntsville
Pop 556,444
Fayetteville
Pop 622,177
Pensacola
Pop 544,949
Places similar to Modesto
Head to head

Compare Modesto side by side

MODESTO VS
Harrisburg
Income$81,484same
Home value$254,698−43%
Population617,427+11%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MODESTO VS
Huntsville
Income$85,881+5%
Home value$295,284−34%
Population556,444same
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MODESTO VS
Fayetteville
Income$82,242+1%
Home value$307,983−32%
Population622,177+12%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MODESTO VS
Pensacola
Income$76,743−6%
Home value$284,678−37%
Population544,949−2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Modesto, CA?

Modesto, CA has about 553,990 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Modesto, CA?

The typical household in Modesto, CA earns about $81,468 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Modesto, CA expensive?

In Modesto, CA, the median home is worth about $450,100, and the typical rent is about $1,623 a month.

How educated are people in Modesto, CA?

About 19.6% of adults age 25 and over in Modesto, CA hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Modesto, CA?

About 13.5% of people in Modesto, CA live below the federal poverty line.

Has Modesto, CA grown since 1990?

Yes, Modesto, CA has grown since 1990. The population has added about 183,468 residents, a change of about 50 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →