218,758
Population
Sunny Days: 260
95100 Affordability
85100 Schools
90100 Diversity
80100 Safety
Modesto, California
Tree City
Modesto Aerial
Modesto Downtown
Modesto Holiday
Modstock Festival
LookyLOO Review of Modesto
Housing
Now, for the record, we’re comparing Modesto to other California cities. Given that qualification, we will say that Modesto has some beautiful neighborhoods, like Graceada Park or Coffee-Sylvan areas, with cool, older renovated homes. What’s more, these homes are priced incredibly reasonably compared to other options closer to San Francisco. If you’re looking for a beautiful, historic home at a reasonable price, Modesto could be your spot.
Lifestyle
For being kind of in the middle of nowhere, Modesto has a lot going on. The revitalized downtown has great restaurants, a performing arts center with two amazing venues, a symphony orchestra, an opera company, a repertory theater company, and several theaters showing new and independent movies and live music. There is also a thriving art community a majestic park with an outdoor theater for free summer concerts.
This is really how the people of Modesto live in these walkscore-friendly neighborhoods. Enjoying the “downtown” activities of a city that created its own scene to accommodate the distance to other metros.
If you want to see what locals get up to in Modesto, check out the calendar of events.
We highly recommend visiting Modesto and staying in the community in a VRBO rather than a hotel to get a feel for what it's like to live among the locals. You can receive discounted fares on travel via our partnership with Expedia as well.
Worklife
Modesto is truly an agricultural center of the United States. The area produces 8% of the entire agricultural output of the country so expect lots of local workers to depend directly or indirectly on farm production. The corporate business here is also connected to the food industry. Foster Farms and Save Mart Supermarkets (operate Lucky’s, FoodMaxx and Albertsons) are here.
The world’s largest winery, Gallo, is here. And finally you have Blue Diamond Growers, an almond processing business, headquartered in Modesto. If you aren’t in the food biz or the local service economy, then you’re probably coming here to work from home. As was noted in the best part of Modesto, that can work.
Why You Should Move Here Now?
The Comeback Kid
Our sense is that if you insist on living in a big metroplex like San Francisco or Los Angeles then you probably won’t have Modesto on your list. On the other hand, if you’re a work-from-homer and you want to live approximately two hours from everything: San Francisco, Yosemite, The Sierras and more, then Modesto might work for you. Think of it as a quiet home base that serves as a launching pad when the mood strikes you to hit the city, the national parks or the slopes.
Reviews of Modesto from Locals
mariposanavegante
2y ago
🦉🦉🦉
Some people make Modesto sound horrible, and it’s not that bad. I can see both the pros and cons of living here and comparing to other places in California, the central valley is a better option. We’re only a drive away from the Bay Area(San Francisco), Yosemite, and Sacramento. Housing is more affordable here than living in the bay or LA
I would suggest looking into housing in Ripon or Manteca if you’re looking for something more relaxing.
Modesto - especially downtown Modesto is a little more lively when it comes to activities, restaurants, bars, live music, events, etc. Modesto is very community orientated. We have an art walk, and street festivals/parades.
Depending on the area, there is heavy homelessness.. However, we see homelessness everywhere and if you’re coming from Detroit, you won’t find it surprising.. it’s sad but it’s reality.
Manteca is more laid back because there isn’t as much to do but it is growing.. Ripon is an even smaller town but housing is newer and nicer.
For more reviews of Modesto from locals, check out: The Reviews
Want to give Modesto a shot?
Use our friends at VRBO and Expedia to help get you going!
Living in Modesto
Neighborhoods in Modesto
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The Area
Modesto is in the Central Valley of California and is surrounded by rich farmland and the kind of pollen that anyone who has lived in a farming area knows can crush your spirit. The city is north in the central valley and so is geographically closer to San Francisco/San Jose than Los Angeles. It also sits roughly in the middle of the state on the east/west axis between the forests and mountains of Stanislaus National Forest and Yosemite to its east and the cities and coast of the Bay Area to the west. As was noted in the “Why Move Now” section its either isolated, or conveniently located depending on your appetite for driving.
There is an airport in Modesto that has private and charter option types but if you need a major airport then Oakland or San Jose will be your closest options at roughly 75-90 minutes away when there is no traffic.