What’s the best part of Modesto?
It could be where everyone knows their neighbor. Or it could be where home prices are the highest, meaning it’s where everyone wants to live.
Instead of relying on public opinion and speculation, we wanted to get the facts straight and find out which neighborhoods in Modesto are the best based on Saturday Night Science.
Whether you live in the sticks or in an apartment building downtown, you want a little pocket that you can call home. And each neighborhood offers different perks and benefits.
Smaller neighborhoods usually have obvious benefits — less crime, a slower pace of life, and a lower cost of living. But not all Modesto neighborhoods are created equal. Some are better than others. But which ones?
If you’re thinking of moving to California and Modesto is on the top of your list, check out the best neighborhoods for 2024.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
So what’s the best neighborhood to live in Modesto for 2024? According to the most recent census data, Coffee-Sylvan looks to be the best Modesto neighborhood to live in.
Read on to see how we determined the places around Modesto that deserve a little bragging rights, or maybe you’re interested in the worst neighborhoods in Modesto.
For more California reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In California
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- Most Dangerous Cities In California
The 10 Best Neighborhoods To Live In Modesto
1. Coffee-Sylvan
Population: 981
Median Home Value: $296,389 (best)
Median Income: $53,105 (Fifth best)
More on Coffee-Sylvan: Real Estate
2. East Modesto
Population: 81,048
Median Home Value: $268,355 (Third best)
Median Income: $57,710 (Second best)
More on East Modesto: Real Estate
3. Northeast Modesto
Population: 49,592
Median Home Value: $287,995 (Second best)
Median Income: $61,161 (best)
More on Northeast Modesto: Real Estate
4. Shackelford
Population: 1,269
Median Home Value: $126,692 (12th best)
Median Income: $38,954 (11th best)
More on Shackelford: Real Estate
5. Bret Harte
Population: 10,269
Median Home Value: $158,774 (Ninth best)
Median Income: $47,265 (Sixth best)
More on Bret Harte: Real Estate
6. Northwest Modesto
Population: 45,124
Median Home Value: $253,670 (Fourth best)
Median Income: $55,578 (Fourth best)
More on Northwest Modesto: Real Estate
7. Airport
Population: 6,346
Median Home Value: $249,954 (Fifth best)
Median Income: $43,977 (Eighth best)
More on Airport: Real Estate
8. North Side
Population: 59,290
Median Home Value: $249,710 (Sixth best)
Median Income: $55,754 (Third best)
More on North Side: Real Estate
9. Riverdale Park
Population: 1,136
Median Home Value: $211,597 (Eighth best)
Median Income: $43,919 (Ninth best)
More on Riverdale Park: Real Estate
10. Central Modesto
Population: 28,826
Median Home Value: $235,823 (Seventh best)
Median Income: $44,128 (Seventh best)
More on Central Modesto: Real Estate
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Modesto, CA Neighborhoods In 2024
To rank the best neighborhoods in Modesto, we had to determine what criteria define “best” and then apply Saturday Night Science to it.
Using FBI crime, Census, and extrapolated BLS data, we arrived at the following set of criteria:
- High incomes
- Low unemployment rates
- Low crime
- High home prices
- High population densities (A proxy for things to do)
We then ranked each neighborhood with scores from 1 to 15 in each category, where 1 was the best.
Next, we averaged the rankings for each neighborhood to create a best neighborhood index.
And finally, we crowned the neighborhood with the lowest best neighborhood index, the “Best City Neighborhood In Modesto.” We’re lookin’ at you, Coffee-Sylvan.
Read on below to learn more about what it’s like to live in the best places Modesto, California has to offer. Or skip to the end to see the list of all the neighborhoods in the city, from best to worst.
We updated this article for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking the best neighborhoods to live in Modesto.
Summary: Putting A Bow On Our Analysis Of The Best Neighborhoods In Modesto
If you’re measuring the neighborhoods in Modesto where crime is low and everyone wants to live, this is an accurate list.
The best neighborhoods in Modesto are Coffee-Sylvan, East Modesto, Northeast Modesto, Shackelford, Bret Harte, Northwest Modesto, Airport, North Side, Riverdale Park, and Central Modesto.
As mentioned earlier, the neighborhoods in Modesto aren’t all good. Robertson Road takes the title of the worst neighborhood to live in Modesto.
The worst neighborhoods in Modesto are Robertson Road, Downtown, South Side, O. G. Southside, and West Side.
We ranked the neighborhoods from best to worst in the chart below.
For more California reading, check out:
Best Neighborhoods To Live In Modesto For 2024 Detailed Data
| Rank | Neighborhood | Population | Home Value | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coffee-Sylvan | 981 | $296,389 | $53,105 |
| 2 | East Modesto | 81,048 | $268,355 | $57,710 |
| 3 | Northeast Modesto | 49,592 | $287,995 | $61,161 |
| 4 | Shackelford | 1,269 | $126,692 | $38,954 |
| 5 | Bret Harte | 10,269 | $158,774 | $47,265 |
| 6 | Northwest Modesto | 45,124 | $253,670 | $55,578 |
| 7 | Airport | 6,346 | $249,954 | $43,977 |
| 8 | North Side | 59,290 | $249,710 | $55,754 |
| 9 | Riverdale Park | 1,136 | $211,597 | $43,919 |
| 10 | Central Modesto | 28,826 | $235,823 | $44,128 |
| 11 | West Side | 37,321 | $136,903 | $42,411 |
| 12 | O. G. Southside | 3,112 | $126,688 | $31,167 |
| 13 | South Side | 16,501 | $148,680 | $37,005 |
| 14 | Downtown | 2,920 | $111,490 | $33,428 |
| 15 | Robertson Road | 660 | $92,882 | $31,531 |
