Modesto is a city located in Stanislaus County California. Modesto has a 2024 population of 218,989. It is also the county seat of Stanislaus County. Modesto is currently growing at a rate of 0.03% annually and its population has increased by 0.14% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 218,691 in 2020.
The average household income in Modesto is $96,309 with a poverty rate of 13.8%. The median age in Modesto is 34.9 years: 34 years for males, and 36 years for females.
It is one of the top farm production counties in California, with agricultural production including chickens, walnuts, almonds, and milk. The city has also been ranked as one of the most affordable cities in the nation.
About 18.5% live below the federal poverty line. Another interesting fact is that about 32% of the population in Modesto is obese, which exceeds the state average of 22.7%.
Modesto has experienced growth in its population during almost every census. The exception was the period between 1890 and 1900 when a 15.7% loss was recorded. However, the city immediately bounced back, nearly doubling its population by the time of the 1910 census. While population growth was high through the 1990s, it has recently slowed. Estimates in 2016 show that the population at this time was 5.5% higher than the last recorded numbers in the 2010 census.
Modesto was originally founded as a railroad town in 1870. Its original name was to be Ralston after the man who financed the endeavor, but the man asked for it to be named something else. It was named “Modesto” after the man’s modesty. In Modesto’s earliest years, it had a population of over 1,000. Its agricultural land and the railroad made it a desirable place to live, so the population began to grow from the very beginning. By the time the 1900s rolled around, the population had more than quadrupled to over 4,500 residents.
The city has long had a history of agriculture and was a provider of many supplies during World War II, including canned goods and fresh eggs. Modesto’s county has been ranked sixth in terms of farm production. In 2011 alone, the county earned grossed over $3 billion in agricultural goods. The city is not just known for its agrarian goods but also for its architecture, which has been featured in the Museum of Modern Art publications multiple times. The city has also been ranked as one of the most affordable, although it is rated poorly in terms of job forecast growth.
Modesto is also a popular tourist destination, with people from all over the country coming to visit its museums, walk through its downtown streets, or to visit historical landmarks like the McHenry Mansion. Today, the city’s downtown area has been modernized to add new attractions and to create a tourist walk to showcase one of the original locations featured in the film, “American Graffiti.”
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Modesto was:
Race | Population | Percentage (of total) |
---|---|---|
White | 125,635 | 57.55% |
Two or more races | 38,792 | 17.77% |
Other race | 21,735 | 9.96% |
Asian | 16,829 | 7.71% |
Black or African American | 10,031 | 4.59% |
Native American | 2,997 | 1.37% |
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 2,289 | 1.05% |
White
Two or more races
Other race
Asian
Black or African American
Native American
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Household Type | Count | Average Size | Owner | Renter |
---|---|---|---|---|
All | 71,794 | 3 | 57.7 | 42.3 |
Married | 33,693 | 3.74 | 70.4 | 29.6 |
Non Family | 20,830 | 1.3 | 50.7 | 49.3 |
Female | 11,610 | 3.68 | 39 | 61 |
Male | 5,661 | 3.42 | 46.4 | 53.6 |
3.56
Average Family Size
3
Average Household Size
57.7%
Rate of Home Ownership
Married
Male
Female
NonFamily
owner
renter
Male
Female
Education Attained | Count | Percentage |
---|---|---|
9th to 12th Grade | 11,777 | 8.3% |
Associates Degree | 11,956 | 8.43% |
Bachelors Degree | 19,286 | 13.6% |
Graduate Degree | 8,682 | 6.12% |
High School Graduate | 42,020 | 29.62% |
Less Than 9th Grade | 11,423 | 8.05% |
Some College | 36,707 | 25.88% |
Less Than 9th Grade
9th to 12th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Associates Degree
Bachelors Degree
Graduate Degree
High School Graduation Rate
Bachelors Rate
Race | Total | High School | Bachelors |
---|---|---|---|
White | 66,370 | 61,109 | 16,874 |
Hispanic | 51,793 | 37,635 | 4,946 |
2+ Races | 20,735 | 15,262 | 2,671 |
Other Race | 13,527 | 9,737 | 1,204 |
Asian | 11,082 | 8,859 | 3,642 |
Black | 6,372 | 5,744 | 1,059 |
Native American | 1,981 | 1,512 | 295 |
Islander | 1,525 | 1,212 | 153 |
The highest rate of high school graduation is among white people with a rate of 92.07%.
The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among asian people with a rate of 32.86%.
All
Male
Female
Name | Average | Male | Female |
---|---|---|---|
Bachelors Degree | $66,307 | $74,238 | $61,155 |
Graduate Degree | $96,654 | $104,821 | $90,671 |
High School Graduate | $39,423 | $42,601 | $33,997 |
Less Than 9th Grade | $29,302 | $34,369 | $20,842 |
Overall | $46,400 | $51,530 | $40,023 |
Some College | $48,659 | $59,016 | $38,383 |
$46,400
Average Earnings
$51,530
Average Male
$40,023
Average Female
Only English
Spanish
Other Indo-European Languages
Asian and Pacific Island Languages
Other Languages
62.6% of Modesto residents speak only English, while 37.4% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 26.97% of the population.
rate
Name | Total | In Poverty | Poverty Rate |
---|---|---|---|
Hispanic | 92,568 | 15,488 | 16.73% |
White | 87,284 | 9,445 | 10.82% |
Multiple | 38,320 | 6,998 | 18.26% |
Asian | 16,805 | 2,781 | 16.55% |
Other | 21,667 | 2,594 | 11.97% |
Black | 9,910 | 1,319 | 13.31% |
Native | 2,910 | 436 | 14.98% |
Islander | 2,263 | 139 | 6.14% |
13.8%
Overall Poverty Rate
12.36%
Male Poverty Rate
15.17%
Female Poverty Rate
The race most likely to be in poverty in Modesto is Multiple, with 18.26% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Modesto is Islander, with 6.14% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 1.8%. Among those working part-time, it was 14.27%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 23.62%.
rate
Rate | Poverty |
---|---|
Less Than 9th Grade | 24.66% |
High School | 12.89% |
Some College | 10.42% |
Bachelors or Greater | 4.39% |
rate
Rate | Poverty |
---|---|
Female Unemployed | 35.16% |
Male Unemployed | 22.34% |
Female Employed | 5.5% |
Male Employed | 5.1% |
Households
Families
MarriedFamilies
NonFamilies
Name | Median | Mean |
---|---|---|
Families | $81,129 | $105,438 |
Households | $73,375 | $96,309 |
Married Families | $97,201 | $120,114 |
Non Families | $49,244 | $66,641 |
mean
median
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
44.4%
Overall Marriage Rate
46.7%
Male Marriage Rate
42.3%
Female Marriage Rate
male
female
The age group where males are most likely to be married is Over 65, while the female age group most likely to be married is 35-44.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Second Gulf War
First Gulf War
Vietnam
Korea
World War II
8,302
Number of Veterans
7,452
Male Veterans
850
Female Veterans
War | Veterans |
---|---|
Vietnam | 2,839 |
Second Gulf War | 2,183 |
First Gulf War | 1,216 |
Korea | 473 |
World War II | 161 |
count
Age Group | Veterans |
---|---|
35 to 54 | 2,170 |
65 to 74 | 2,041 |
75+ | 1,850 |
55 to 64 | 1,353 |
18 to 34 | 888 |
count
Name | Veterans | % of Total |
---|---|---|
White | 6,385 | 6.64% |
Hispanic | 1,629 | 2.63% |
2+ Races | 643 | 2.6% |
Other Race | 475 | 3.03% |
Black | 438 | 6% |
Asian | 225 | 1.82% |
Native American | 111 | 4.61% |
Islander | 25 | 1.39% |
Less Than 9th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Bachelors or Greater
7.61%
Veteran Poverty Rate
33.62%
Veteran Disability Rate
LaborForceParticipation
61.6%
Labor Force Participation
56.7%
Employment Rate
7.8%
Unemployment Rate
LaborForceParticipation
LaborForceParticipation
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
69.27%
Born in Modesto
81.95%
Native Born
18.05%
Foreign Born
9.11%
Non Citizen
8.94%
Naturalized
81.95% of Modesto residents were born in the United States, with 69.27% having been born in California. 9.11% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Latin America.
Year | Population | Growth | Change |
---|---|---|---|
2029 | 219,362 | 74 | 0.03% |
2028 | 219,288 | 75 | 0.03% |
2027 | 219,213 | 75 | 0.03% |
2026 | 219,138 | 74 | 0.03% |
2025 | 219,064 | 75 | 0.03% |
2024 | 218,989 | 74 | 0.03% |
2023 | 218,915 | 571 | 0.26% |
2022 | 218,344 | -483 | -0.22% |
2021 | 218,827 | 136 | 0.06% |
2020 | 218,691 | 3,690 | 1.72% |
2019 | 215,001 | 605 | 0.28% |
2018 | 214,396 | 1,220 | 0.57% |
2017 | 213,176 | 1,753 | 0.83% |
2016 | 211,423 | 2,011 | 0.96% |
2015 | 209,412 | 1,531 | 0.74% |
2014 | 207,881 | 1,660 | 0.8% |
2013 | 206,221 | 1,131 | 0.55% |
2012 | 205,090 | 971 | 0.48% |
2011 | 204,119 | 841 | 0.41% |
2010 | 203,278 | 0 | 0% |
2000 | 188,856 | 24,126 | 14.65% |
1990 | 164,730 | 57,767 | 54.01% |
1980 | 106,963 | 45,251 | 73.33% |
1970 | 61,712 | 25,127 | 68.68% |
1960 | 36,585 | 19,196 | 110.39% |
1950 | 17,389 | 1,010 | 6.17% |
1940 | 16,379 | 2,537 | 18.33% |
1930 | 13,842 | 4,601 | 49.79% |
1920 | 9,241 | 5,207 | 129.08% |
1910 | 4,034 | 2,010 | 99.31% |
1900 | 2,024 | -378 | -15.74% |
1890 | 2,402 | 709 | 41.88% |
1880 | 1,693 | -217,669 | -99.23% |