What percentage of people rent in Modesto, CA?

Name: Renters and owners in Modesto, CA, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

41.1% (±1.4 points) of the occupied homes in Modesto, CA are rented (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

That is 30,016 renting households against 42,973 that own their home.

In Modesto, the share of households that rent went from 44.9% in 2015–2019 to 41.1% in 2020–2024 (−3.8 percentage points), a measurable decrease.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Households that rent: 41.1% (±1.4 points)
Renting households: 30,016 (±1,186)
Median renter income: $58,073 (±$2,952)

Who rents and who owns in Modesto

Tenure, estimate (90% margin of error)
	Modesto	Stanislaus County	California	United States
Renter-occupied share	41.1% (±1.4 points)	38.8% (±1.0 points)	44.1% (±0.2 points)	34.8%
Renting households	30,016 (±1,186)	69,046 (±1,789)	5,980,523 (±22,985)	45,017,354
Owning households	42,973 (±1,115)	108,828 (±1,753)	7,567,568 (±37,334)	84,210,142
Average renter household size	2.9 (±0.1)	3.0 (±0.1)	2.7 (±0.0)	2.3
Average owner household size	3.0 (±0.1)	3.1 (±0.0)	3.0 (±0.0)	2.6
Median renter household income	$58,073 (±$2,952)	$59,312 (±$2,458)	$71,186 (±$298)	$52,966
Median owner household income	$99,127 (±$3,231)	$100,523 (±$2,208)	$127,456 (±$424)	$100,009

In Modesto, the renter share is higher than in Stanislaus County (38.8%).

It is also lower than in California (44.1%).

It is higher than the national figure (34.8%).

In Stanislaus County, Modesto ranks 10 of 24 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest renter share.

Statewide, it ranks 383 of 1,076.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

How renting in Modesto has changed since 2015–2019

2015–2019 and 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates
	2015–2019	2020–2024	Amount of change	Verdict
Households that rent	44.9% (±1.5 points)	41.1% (±1.4 points)	−3.8 percentage points	Measurable decrease
Median gross rent	$1,176 (±$19)	$1,690 (±$33)	+43.7%	Up after inflation
Median household income	$59,287 (±$1,330)	$79,891 (±$1,825)	+34.8%	Up after inflation

The Census Bureau publishes 2015–2019 dollars in 2019 dollars and 2020–2024 dollars in 2024 dollars.

Prices (the CPI-U, US Bureau of Labor Statistics) rose 22.7% between 2019 and 2024, so a dollar figure’s verdict compares the two after raising the earlier one by that much, using the Census Bureau’s test for a difference.

The two periods do not overlap, as the Census Bureau recommends for 5-year estimates.

Households that rent in places near Modesto

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Modesto
Place	Distance	Households that rent	Compared with this place
Modesto	—	41.1% (±1.4 points)	—
Rouse	1.3 mi	68.6% (±15.9 points)	Higher
Bystrom	1.7 mi	41.2% (±10.8 points)	Not measurably different
West Modesto	2.1 mi	44.5% (±6.9 points)	Not measurably different
Parklawn	2.4 mi	47.4% (±16.7 points)	Not measurably different
Bret Harte	2.5 mi	62.6% (±10.5 points)	Higher
Riverdale Park	3.2 mi	42.1% (±30.0 points)	Not measurably different
Ceres	3.3 mi	35.6% (±3.7 points)	Lower
Empire	5.3 mi	39.2% (±12.2 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Ceres, CA (35.6%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Rouse, CA (68.6%), Bret Harte, CA (62.6%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Households that rent across Stanislaus County, place by place

Rank	Place	Households that rent
4	West Modesto	44.5% (±6.9 points)
5	Grayson	44.4% (±24.1 points)
6	Waterford	44.2% (±9.1 points)
7	Turlock	43.9% (±2.4 points)
8	Riverdale Park	42.1% (±30.0 points)
9	Bystrom	41.2% (±10.8 points)
10	Modesto	41.1% (±1.4 points)
11	Empire	39.2% (±12.2 points)
12	Oakdale	37.4% (±5.3 points)
13	Hughson	35.7% (±8.2 points)
14	Ceres	35.6% (±3.7 points)
15	Newman	34.4% (±8.9 points)
16	Denair	29.5% (±11.3 points)

Showing 13 of 24 places in Stanislaus County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates), compared with 2015–2019.

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Modesto

How many renters are there in Modesto?

Modesto has an estimated 30,016 (±1,186) renting households, 41.1% of its occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Is renting growing in Modesto?

In Modesto, the share of households that rent went from 44.9% in 2015–2019 to 41.1% in 2020–2024 (−3.8 percentage points), a measurable decrease.

How big are renting households in Modesto?

A renting household in Modesto has 2.9 people on average, against 3.0 in an owned home.

How much do renters earn in Modesto?

The median renting household in Modesto, CA has an income of $58,073 (±$2,952) a year, against $99,127 for households that own their home.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) for Modesto city, California (place:48354, in state:06).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The 2015–2019 figures are DP04_0047PE, DP04_0047PM, B25064_001E, B25064_001M, B19013_001E, B19013_001M from the 2019 release.

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0047PE, DP04_0047PM, DP04_0047E, DP04_0047M, DP04_0046E, DP04_0046M, DP04_0049E, DP04_0049M, DP04_0048E, DP04_0048M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M, B25119_002E, B25119_002M

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.