Demand-Backed Comparison

Compare San Bernardino vs Modesto on cost, climate, safety, and daily life

People have logged this comparison 2 times on WhyThere. The cards open full city pages. The charts and matrix below are the fast side-by-side read on housing, climate, walkability, safety, schools, parks, and day-to-day tradeoffs.

San BernardinoModesto

San Bernardino

California

City page
Modesto
Photo by Scott Blake on Unsplash

Modesto

California

City page

What Stands Out

A quick read on this comparison

Deterministic summaries based on the data in view.

Housing and tax tradeoff: Modesto, California

Modesto, California comes out ahead here on rent burden and home price. This only compares rent burden, rent, home price, and estimated state tax burden; it is not a total cost-of-living ranking.

Biggest tradeoff: San Bernardino, California

San Bernardino, California is the sharpest split in this comparison: strong on climate comfort, weaker on safety.

Potential dealbreaker: San Bernardino, California

San Bernardino, California needs a closer look before you get too attached, especially on tax burden.

Comparison Matrix

City
Route
General Info
Population216,108211,266
Center Elevation1,053 ft(321 m)92 ft(28 m)
Housing & Wealth
Median Home
$479,861
$436,258
Median Rent
$1,986
$2,029
Median Income$61,323$73,375
Rent Burden39%33%
Climate & Risks
Days with 5+ Hours of Sun346 days/yr335 days/yr
Avg. High79°F78°F
Avg. Low54°F52°F
Comfort Score81/100Great67/100Good
Temp Swing33°F45°F
Annual Precipitation15"(38 cm)17"(43 cm)
Annual Snowfall0"(0 cm)0"(0 cm)
Air Quality
Typical: 702024 modeled avg · 163 days > 100
Typical: 492024 modeled avg · 42 days > 100
Infrastructure & Lifestyle
Walkability4548
Transit Score
31
30

Walk Score data powered by Redfin

Safety Score45 / 10056 / 100
School Rating5.6/105.3/10
Flood Risk (FEMA)
minimalMinimal Risk
minimalMinimal Risk
Central Tract Wildfire Risk
minimalMinimal
minimalMinimal
Internet Access
Fiber: 72%Cable: 95%
Fiber: 22%Cable: 95%
Demographics
Median Age31.2 years34.9 years
College Educated13%20%
Remote Workers5%7%
Nature Access
Local Nature & Reserves
Finding...
Finding...
Scouting & Local Help
Housing and local helpA practical next step once someone starts picturing the move.
Featured Local Partner
AD
Realtor
Realtor spot available
For an agent, brokerage, or relocation team that can answer housing questions in San Bernardino.
One featured slot per city
Featured Local Partner
AD
Realtor
Realtor spot available
For an agent, brokerage, or relocation team that can answer housing questions in Modesto.
One featured slot per city
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