How livable is Modesto? Here’s how it compares to other US cities
From national parks to scenic coastlines, California’s quality of life is hard to beat — and Modesto’s central location offers residents a short drive to the Bay Area, the coast and the Sierra Nevada.
However, it’s no secret that California’s cost of living is higher than in most states.
To determine the “most livable metro areas” in terms of quality of life, RentCafe ranked 149 metropolitan areas based on cost of living, location, community and more to determine the most livable places in the country.
Livability is “everything that you would care about when choosing where to live, including whether this place can support the well-being and social engagement of its residents,” RentCafe real estate writer Adina Dragos said in the study released on Jan. 3.
Here’s how living in Modesto compares to other metropolitan areas across California and the nation:
How livable is Modesto?
Modesto ranked 132nd out of 149 metropolitan areas nationwide for overall livability, according to RentCafe.
The Central Valley city performed best in terms of quality of life, ranking No. 68 in the country. However, it struggled in other categories.
Modesto placed among the 10 lowest-ranked areas for socioeconomics and community, coming in at No. 147 for economy and No. 142 for location and community, RentCafe said.
Housing and affordability remain major challenges in the Stanislaus County city.
About 23% of residents face “severe housing problems,” while roughly 37% of the Modesto area’s population of 550,000 residents rent their homes, according to the report.
The cost of living was about 54% higher than the national average, while income growth stood at 2% and the unemployment rate was roughly 8%.
When it comes to health care access in the Modesto region, RentCafe research found mixed results.
More than 94% of residents have access to exercise opportunities, yet about 26% are considered “physically inactive,” the study found.
RentCafe also found that the region has 14 health care providers per 10,000 residents.
When it comes to culture and recreation, options are limited, the apartment website said.
Modesto has just two arts, entertainment and recreation venues per 10,000 residents, placing it near the bottom nationally.
Which California city has the best quality of life?
RentCafe included 16 California metropolitan areas in its 2026 Most Livable Metro Areas report.
One Bay Area city rose to the top as the most livable place in California.
San Francisco ranked highest among the Golden State’s metropolitan areas, with RentCafe describing it as “perfect for social butterflies chasing healthy living.”
“If your main priority is living your best life,” the rental properties site said, San Francisco is the top choice in California.
The metropolitan area, which is home to about 4.5 million people, ranked No. 33 overall out of 149 metropolitan areas nationwide.
San Francisco scored especially well for its quality of life, placing third in the United States.
However, the Bay Area city landed at No. 132 in terms of socioeconomics and No. 98 for location and community.
How did Modesto rank among other California cities?
While San Francisco was the highest ranked California city on RentCafe’s list of the nation’s most livable areas, several other California cities also ranked highly on RentCafe’s list of the most livable cities in the nation.
Santa Rosa was No. 43 overall, with a quality-of-life rank of 16, an economy rank of 108 and a location and community rank of 94.
Sacramento followed closely at No. 47 overall. The capital region ranked No. 13 in the nation for quality of life, No. 122 for economy and No. 96 for location and community.
Rounding out the list of the top five most livable cities in California, San Diego placed No. 55 nationwide while Oxnard came in at No. 60.
Modesto was among the lowest ranked cities for livability in California, according to RentCafe.
However, the city ranked above Fresno, Salinas, Bakersfield and Visalia, which landed at No. 136, No. 141, No. 144 and No. 146, respectively.
Where are the most livable metro areas in US?
According to RentCafe, “the Midwest dominates all regions when it comes to overall livability, with six metro areas ranking in the top 20.”
Washington, D.C., ranked as the most livable spot in the nation due to its “focus on wellness, revitalization efforts and unmatched professional networking opportunities,” according to RentCafe.
Portland, Maine, came in at second place, RentCafe said, “driven by a stable job market and countless cultural and culinary offerings.”
According to RentCafe, these were the top 10 most livable metropolitan areas in the country:
- 1. Washington, D.C.
- 2. Portland, Maine
- 3. Kansas City
- 4. Des Moines
- 5. Ann Arbor, Michigan
- 6. Albany, New York
- 7. Columbus, Ohio
- 8. Asheville, North Carolina
- 9. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
- 10. Boise
How did RentCafe come up with its findings?
To measure livability, RentCafe focused on factors people consider when choosing where to live — from affordability and job stability to health care access, recreation and a sense of community.
The goal was to assess how well each metropolitan area supports residents’ overall quality of life and well-being, RentCafe said.
The study analyzed 149 metropolitan areas across the United States using 17 metrics regarding socioeconomic factors; quality of life; and location and community.
Together, the apartment search site said, these measures helped determine which places offer the best balance of opportunity, comfort and livability.
