City comparison
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 $1,690 a month in Modesto and $1,831 in Denver, and median household income lands at $79,891 versus $94,718. 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 crime index, where Modesto leads by 77% — 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.
Modesto, CA
Denver, CO
Rent
8% cheaper
Modesto rent is 8% cheaper than Denver
Modesto
Winner$1,690/mo
Denver
$1,831/mo
Typical rent runs $1,690 a month in Modesto versus $1,831 in Denver, so Modesto is 8% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $141, or $1,692 a year — noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Median income
19% higher
Denver's median income is 19% higher than Modesto
Modesto
$79,891
Denver
Winner$94,718
Median household income is $94,718 in Denver versus $79,891 in Modesto, so typical pay runs 19% higher in Denver — about $14,827 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
77% lower crime
Modesto's crime index is 77% lower than Denver
Modesto
Winner32 (100 = avg)
Denver
137 (100 = avg)
Modesto's crime index is 32 versus 137 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 77% lower in Modesto. That gap is meaningful day-to-day — it affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Modesto is the easier city. Denver can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
School scores
Neck and neck
Modesto and Denver are about even on school scores.
Modesto
A- · 84/100
Denver
A- · 84/100
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
7% more comfortable
Denver weather is 7% more comfortable than Modesto
Modesto
80°F typical
Denver
Winner78°F typical
Denver scores 7% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 80°F in Modesto and 78°F in Denver. Modesto reads as warm weather most of the year; Denver reads as warm weather most of the year. 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
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 8% cheaper here at about $1,690 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 77% lower than Denver (32 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.
Fit check
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 19% higher ($94,718), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 78°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Bottom line
If safety is your priority, Modesto is the clear choice.
If the job market matters more to you, Denver pulls ahead.
For most movers comparing these two cities, Modesto offers the better overall package.
Common questions
Ready to move to Modesto?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Modestowhen you're ready to act.
Find apartments in Modesto
Browse rentals matched to your budget and neighborhood.
Get quote →Get moving quotes
Compare licensed movers and lock in a price before you pack.
Get quote →See mortgage rates for Modesto
Check current rates and start a pre-approval in minutes.
Get quote →Compare storage near Modesto
Find a unit nearby for the overlap days of your move.
Get quote →Keep researching