Modesto named one of the best places to retire in CA. See where it ranked and why
Looking to retire? Modesto is one of the best places in the Golden State to spend your golden years, according to U.S. News and World Report.
The media company recently ranked the top retirement spots in California — and the United States — based on affordable housing, jobs, access to quality health care and other factors.
California’s natural wonders and “diverse climate” make the state a natural draw for retirees, according to Jon Ekoniak, managing partner at Bordeaux Wealth Advisors in Menlo Park.
However, the Golden State is known for its high cost of living and aggressive tax rates, Ekoniak told U.S. News & World Report.
California is the second most expensive state for retirees in the United States based on annual spending, according to a 2025 study by personal finance website GoBankingRates.
In California, $1 million in retirement savings along with Social Security benefits would last about 16.2 years, the study found.
Here’s what makes Modesto a good place to spend your retirement:
Why is Modesto top spot to retire
Modesto was No. 7 on U.S. News & World Report’s list of the best places in California.
“Located in the Central Valley, Modesto is surrounded by rich farmland used to produce almonds, milk, cattle and a variety of other crops,” the publication said, calling the Stanislaus County city is “considerably more affordable than California’s larger metro areas on the coast.”
The median monthly rent in Modesto is $1,315, U.S. News & World Report said, and the city has a median monthly mortgage rate of $1,260.
The median value of a home in Modesto was $451,075 as of Monday, June 16, according to real estate website Zillow.
U.S. News & World Report also highlighted the local minor league baseball team, the Modesto Nuts, and the city’s connection to “Star Wars” creator George Lucas.
Lucas’s Modesto upbringing inspired his 1973 movie “American Graffiti,” which the city celebrates with the annual American Graffiti Festival and car show.
As of July 2024, about 14% of Modesto’s 220,592 residents were 65 years old or older, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
What are the top 10 cities for retirees in California?
U.S. News & World Report ranked a total of 14 cities on its list of the top California spots for retirees.
San Diego was named the best place to retire in the Golden State due to its “year-round pleasant temperatures,” fun beach activities such as scuba diving snorkeling and top-tier health care options including Scripps La Jolla Hospitals and UC San Diego Health-La Jolla and Hillcrest Hospitals.
Los Angeles took second place thanks to its “consistently sunny days and Mediterranean climate,” US News & World Report said, and Sacramento was No. 3 due to its status as a “hub for government jobs, lobbying and think tanks.”
These were the top 10 best cities to retire in California in 2025, according to U.S News and World Report:
How did US News & World Report come up with list?
To come up with its list of California’s best cities for retirees, U.S. News & World Report ranked the 150 largest cities in the United States based on six factors: affordability, happiness, desirability, retiree taxes, job market and health care quality.
The publication used data from sources including the FBI, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
This story was originally published June 17, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
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