Modesto, CA

Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)

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2021 Population

550,842

0.843% 1-year growth

US Senator

Dianne Feinstein

Democratic Party

US Senator

Alex Padilla

Democratic Party

2021 Median Age

34.4

0.292% 1-year increase

2021 Poverty Rate

13.6%

0.799% 1-year increase

2021 Median Household Income

$68,368

8.74% 1-year growth

2021 Median Property Value

$338,300

7.7% 1-year growth

2021 Employed Population

234,325

1.42% 1-year growth

About

In 2021, Modesto, CA had a population of 551k people with a median age of 34.4 and a median household income of $68,368. Between 2020 and 2021 the population of Modesto, CA grew from 546,235 to 550,842, a 0.843% increase and its median household income grew from $62,873 to $68,368, a 8.74% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Modesto, CA are White (Non-Hispanic) (39.6%), White (Hispanic) (25.2%), Other (Hispanic) (11.1%), Two+ (Hispanic) (10.6%), and Asian (Non-Hispanic) (5.62%).

None of the households in Modesto, CA reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

89.6% of the residents in Modesto, CA are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Modesto, CA are California State University-Stanislaus (2,857 degrees awarded in 2021), Modesto Junior College (118976) (2,817 degrees), and San Joaquin Valley College-Modesto (222 degrees).

In 2021, the median property value in Modesto, CA was $338,300, and the homeownership rate was 59.5%.

Most people in Modesto, CA drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 31 minutes. The average car ownership in Modesto, CA was 2 cars per household.

Modesto, CA borders Merced, CA, San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, Sonora, CA, and Stockton-Lodi, CA.

Photo by Chris Baker

United States California

Population & Diversity

Modesto, CA is home to a population of 551k people, from which 89.6% are citizens. As of 2021, 20.5% of Modesto, CA residents were born outside of the country (113k people).

In 2021, there were 1.58 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (218k people) in Modesto, CA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 139k White (Hispanic) and 61.2k Other (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

89.6%

2021 Citizenship

89.4%

2020 Citizenship

As of 2021, 89.6% of Modesto, CA residents were US citizens, which is lower than the national average of 93.4%. In 2020, the percentage of US citizens in Modesto, CA was 89.4%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Modesto, CA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Modesto, CA

White (Non-Hispanic)
218k ± 419
White (Hispanic)
139k ± 4.3k
Other (Hispanic)
61.2k ± 3.98k

47.9%

Hispanic Population

264k people

47.9% of the people in Modesto, CA are hispanic (264k people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Modesto, CA as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the MSA level, so we are showing data for California.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
3,959,545 ± 46,338 people
Philippines
828,655 ± 22,113 people
China
680,942 ± 20,084 people

In 2021, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of California was Mexico, the natal country of 3,959,545 California residents, followed by Philippines with 828,655 and China with 680,942.

Foreign-Born Population

20.5%

2021 Foreign-Born Population

113k people

20.5%

2020 Foreign-Born Population

112k people

As of 2021, 20.5% of Modesto, CA residents (113k people) were born outside of the United States, which is higher than the national average of 13.6%. In 2020, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Modesto, CA was 20.5%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Modesto, CA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
6,461 ± 473
Gulf War (2001-)
4,678 ± 695
Gulf War (1990s)
2,311 ± 372

Modesto, CA has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.38 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of Modesto, CA employs 234k people. The largest industries in Modesto, CA are Health Care & Social Assistance (30,912 people), Manufacturing (28,580 people), and Retail Trade (26,904 people), and the highest paying industries are Utilities ($85,515), Management of Companies & Enterprises ($77,188), and Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($66,250).

Males in California have an average income that is 1.26 times higher than the average income of females, which is $69,050. The income inequality in California (measured using the Gini index) is 0.497, which is higher than than the national average.

Employment

Occupations

234k

2021 Value

± 4,287

1.42%

1 Year growth

± 2.54%

From 2020 to 2021, employment in Modesto, CA grew at a rate of 1.42%, from 231k employees to 234k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Modesto, CA, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (24,726 people), Sales & Related Occupations (22,077 people), and Management Occupations (20,038 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Modesto, CA.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for false.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in California (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

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Industries

Employment by Industries

234k

2021 Value

± 4,287

1.42%

1 Year growth

± 2.54%

From 2020 to 2021, employment in Modesto, CA grew at a rate of 1.42%, from 231k employees to 234k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Modesto, CA, are Health Care & Social Assistance (30,912 people), Manufacturing (28,580 people), and Retail Trade (26,904 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Modesto, CA, though some of these residents may live in Modesto, CA and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$45,878

Median earning men ± $1,152

$32,082

Median earning women ± $723

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2021 are Public Administration ($82,684), Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($63,566), and Information ($60,440).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2021 are Public Administration ($51,015), Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($44,320), and Educational Services, & Health Care & Social Assistance ($41,358).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for false.

Y-Axis

2.75%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 155M people employed in California. This represents a 2.75% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in California.

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Establishments by Size

The industries with the most establishments

4,139
Educational Services, Health Care & Social Assistance
2,158
Finance & Insurance, and Real Estate, Rental & Leasing
1,774
Retail Trade

The visualization shows the distribution of establishments by industry and by size according to the number of employees.

Payroll by Industry Sector

The industries with the highest total annual payroll

$4.26M
Educational Services, Health Care & Social Assistance
$4.15M
Manufacturing
$1.23M
Wholesale Trade

The chart shows the total annual payroll and the average annual payroll by industry.

Domestic Trade

Domestic Production & Consumption

Domestic production and consumption consists of products and services shipped from California to other states, or from other states to California.

Top Domestic Production in Dollars

In 2020, the top outbound California product (by dollars) was Electronics with $405B, followed by Mixed freight ($159B) and Pharmaceuticals ($155B).

The following chart shows the share of these products in relation to all outbound California products.

Domestic Trade Growth

Showing data for California.

$2.21T

2020 Value in California

$4.61T

Projected 2050 Value in California

109% growth

In 2020, total outbound California trade was $2.21T. This is expected to increase 109% to $4.61T by 2050.

The following chart shows how the domestic outbound California trade is projected to change in comparison to its neighboring states.

Interstate Trade

Interstate trade consists of products and services shipped from California to other states, or from other states to California.

Most Common Trade Partners

Texas
$84.4B
Arizona
$44.8B
Ohio
$40.6B

In 2020, the top outbound California domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was Texas with $84.4B, followed by Arizona with $44.8B and Ohio and $40.6B.

The following map shows the amount of trade that California shares with each state (excluding itself).

Civics

In the 2020 presidential election, the popular vote in California went to Joseph R Biden Jr. with 63.5% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (34.3%), followed by Jo Jorgensen (1.07%).

Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla are the senators currently representing the state of California. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

California is currently represented by 52 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Voting results are not available for Modesto, CA. Showing the available data for California.

2020 Election Results

Joseph R Biden Jr. (63.5%)
Democratic Party
Donald J. Trump (34.3%)
Republican Party
Jo Jorgensen (1.07%)
Libertarian Party

In the 2020 presidential election, the popular vote in California went to Joseph R Biden Jr. with 63.5% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (34.3%), followed by Jo Jorgensen (1.07%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in California for each registered party from 1976 to 2020.

Senator Elections

US Senators from California

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for California.

Dianne Feinstein

Senator from California

Assumed office on November 10, 1992
Elected to the seat to succeed John Seymour (California politician)|John Seymour, who had been appointed to the seat after Pete Wilson was elected Governor of California.

Alex Padilla

Senator from California

Assumed office on January 18, 2021
Appointed to the seat following the resignation of Kamala Harris, who had become Vice President of the United States.

Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla are the senators currently representing California.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in California over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

US Representative Elections

US Representatives from California

California is currently represented by 52 members in the U.S. house.

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the members for California have changed over time starting in 2008.

Education

In 2021, universities in Modesto, CA awarded 6,336 degrees. The student population of Modesto, CA in 2021 is skewed towards women, with 9,243 male students and 17,266 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Modesto, CA are Hispanic or Latino (3,120 and 50.1%), followed by White (1,949 and 31.3%), Asian (486 and 7.81%), and Unknown (238 and 3.82%).

The largest universities in Modesto, CA by number of degrees awarded are California State University-Stanislaus (2,857 and 45.1%), Modesto Junior College (118976) (2,817 and 44.5%), and San Joaquin Valley College-Modesto (222 and 3.5%).

The most popular majors in Modesto, CA are General Business Administration & Management (730 and 11.5%), Liberal Arts & Sciences (677 and 10.7%), and General Psychology (594 and 9.38%).

The median tuition cost in Modesto, CA for a public four year colleges is $3,469 for in-state students and $13,047 for out-of-state students.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2021 in Modesto, CA, the percentage of applicants admitted was 94.8%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 17.5%. The number of students enrolled in 2021 was 26,509 (34.9% men and 65.1% women).

The line chart shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2021 there were 26,509 students enrolled in Modesto, CA, 34.9% men and 65.1% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in Hispanic or Latino with 14,605 records, of which 67.2% were women and 32.8% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

General Business Administration & Management
433 degree-majors awarded
General Psychology
396 degree-majors awarded
Liberal Arts & Sciences
226 degree-majors awarded

In 2021, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Modesto, CA was General Business Administration & Management with 433 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Modesto, CA according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

California State University-Stanislaus
2,857 degrees awarded
Modesto Junior College (118976)
2,817 degrees awarded
San Joaquin Valley College-Modesto
222 degrees awarded

In 2021, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was California State University-Stanislaus with 2,857 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2021, 1,907 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Modesto, CA, which is 0.431 times less than the 4,429 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2021 the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was Hispanic or Latino students. These 3,120 degrees mean that there were 1.6 times more degrees awarded to Hispanic or Latino students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, White, with 1,949 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Public, 4-year or above ($3,469) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2021.

Public, 4-year or above ($990) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2021.

Public, 4-year or above ($1,120) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Working Population

Educational Pyramid

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for California.

Measure

In 2021, 1.89% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 2.12% of women were in the same situation.

This visualization shows the gender distribution of the population according to the academic level reached.

Educational Attainment

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for California.

Race

The most common educational levels obtained by the working population in 2021 were Some college (7.01M), High School or Equivalent (6.74M), and Bachelors Degree (6.25M).

This visualization illustrates the percentage distribution of the population according to the highest educational level reached. You can filter the data by race by using the selector above.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Modesto, CA was $338,300 in 2021, which is 1.38 times larger than the national average of $244,900. Between 2020 and 2021 the median property value increased from $314,100 to $338,300, a 7.7% increase. The homeownership rate in Modesto, CA is 59.5%, which is approximately the same as the national average of 64.6%.

People in Modesto, CA have an average commute time of 31 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Modesto, CA is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Median household income in Modesto, CA is $68,368. In 2021, the county with the highest Median Household Income in Modesto, CA was Santa Clara County, CA with a value of $140,258, followed by San Mateo County, CA and Marin County, CA, with respective values of $136,837 and $131,008.

Housing

Property

$338,300

Median Property Value 2021

±$3,266

$104,220

Median Property Taxes

±$2,500

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Modesto, CA the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Modesto, CA compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

59.5%

Homeownership

2021

67.7%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2021

In 2021, 59.5% of the housing units in Modesto, CA were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 58.7%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Modesto, CA compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

In 2021, the county with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Modesto, CA was Santa Clara County, CA with a value of $140,258, followed by San Mateo County, CA and Marin County, CA, with respective values of $136,837 and $131,008.

The following map shows all of the counties in Modesto, CA colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$68,368

Median Household Income

± $1,506

175k

Number of Households

± 3,490

In 2021, the median household income of the 175k households in Modesto, CA grew to $68,368 from the previous year's value of $62,873.

The following chart displays the households in Modesto, CA distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Modesto, CA is from California.

0.497

2021 Wage GINI in California

0.498

2020 Wage GINI in California

In 2021, the income inequality in California was 0.497 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.12% decline from 2020 to 2021, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for California was higher than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed less evenly in California in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in California across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2021

Drove Alone (80.1%)
Carpooled (10.3%)
Worked At Home (6.38%)

In 2021, 80.1% of workers in Modesto, CA drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (10.3%) and those who worked at home (6.38%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

31 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Modesto, CA have a longer commute time (31 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.8 minutes). Additionally, 8.84% of the workforce in Modesto, CA have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Modesto, CA compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Modesto, CA distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Modesto, CA have 2 cars.

Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

13.6% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Modesto, CA (74.3k out of 546k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.6%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Females 35 - 44 and then Males 6 - 11.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Modesto, CA is White, followed by Hispanic and Two Or More.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Health

93.9% of the population of Modesto, CA has health coverage, with 43.4% on employee plans, 29.9% on Medicaid, 9.4% on Medicare, 10.4% on non-group plans, and 0.916% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in California see 1240 patients per year on average, which represents a 1.12% decrease from the previous year (1254 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1132 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 244 patients per year.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for California.

1,240 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in California

Primary care physicians in California see an average of 1,240 patients per year. This represents a 1.12% decrease from the previous year (1,254 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in California in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2021, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 28.8% under 18 years, 22.3% between 18 and 34 years, 36.1% between 35 and 64 years, and 12.8% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 49% were men and 51% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

6.05%

Uninsured

43.4%

Employer Coverage

29.9%

Medicaid

9.4%

Medicare

10.4%

Non-Group

0.916%

Military or VA

Between 2020 and 2021, the percent of uninsured citizens in Modesto, CA grew by 7.83% from 5.61% to 6.05%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Modesto, CA changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.