Population 6,410 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Downtown Modesto
Household size in Downtown Modesto
| Period | Downtown Modesto | Modesto | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.96 | 3.08 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.01 | 3.05 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.69 | 3.07 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.87 | 3.15 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.09 | +0.07 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Downtown Modesto average 2.87 people, above the national 2.65, so families with children are more common here. Locally, though, the typical household here is smaller than in Modesto overall, where it has 3.15 people. Household size has dropped from 2.96 in 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Downtown Modesto
| Period | Downtown Modesto | Modesto | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.2 | 34.0 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 31.2 | 35.3 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 35.4 | 36.2 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 35.0 | 35.7 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.8 | +1.7 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
With a median age of just 35.0, Downtown Modesto is far younger than the country as a whole (40.1), a population that tilts toward young families with children. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 30.2, mirroring the country. The youngest areas are in the west, the oldest in the east.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Downtown Modesto
| Period | Downtown Modesto | Modesto | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.4% | 16.5% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 18.5% | 16.2% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 19.2% | 15.0% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.9% | 15.7% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −8.4 pts | −0.8 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in Downtown Modesto as they are nationally: 11.9%, against 11.6%. Single parents are less common here than in Modesto overall (15.7%). Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 8.4 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Downtown Modesto
Renters in Downtown Modesto
| Period | Downtown Modesto | Modesto | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 65.8% | 40.9% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 77.7% | 46.2% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 76.7% | 45.2% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 72.1% | 41.2% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +6.3 pts | +0.4 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Downtown Modesto rent: 72.1% of occupied homes are rented, far above the national share of 34.8%. Expect more apartments, and more turnover, than in owner-heavy areas. Among homeowners, 57.9% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 6.3 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Downtown Modesto
| Period | Downtown Modesto | Modesto | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.3% | 8.9% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.2% | 7.8% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.1% | 5.0% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.7% | 5.3% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.4 pts | −3.6 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy runs a little high in Downtown Modesto: 11.7% of homes are empty, against 9.6% nationally. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Downtown Modesto
| Period | Downtown Modesto | Modesto | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1948 | 1974 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1950 | 1975 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1950 | 1975 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1954 | 1975 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +1 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Downtown Modesto is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1954, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1948 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the south, while the north has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Downtown Modesto
| Period | Downtown Modesto | Modesto | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $815 | $1,044 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $787 | $1,076 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $942 | $1,254 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,294 | $1,719 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$479 | +$676 | +$931 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Downtown Modesto costs $1,294 a month with utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $479 a month since 2006–10, up 59%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 44.2% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. The priciest rents are in the south; the most affordable are in the east.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Downtown Modesto
Bachelor's degrees in Downtown Modesto
| Period | Downtown Modesto | Modesto | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.2% | 16.5% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.1% | 16.7% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 10.4% | 17.0% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 13.7% | 19.5% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.5 pts | +3.0 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Downtown Modesto: 13.7% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 5.5 points, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the north and least in the south.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Downtown Modesto
| Period | Downtown Modesto | Modesto | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 59.7% | 75.1% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 67.2% | 77.4% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 71.2% | 79.2% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 68.8% | 80.3% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +9.1 pts | +5.2 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
Just over three in ten adults in Downtown Modesto never finished high school, well above the national share: only 68.8% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. The share with a diploma is up 9.1 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Downtown Modesto
| Period | Downtown Modesto | Modesto | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.7% | 13.8% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 21.5% | 17.3% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.4% | 9.6% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 13.7% | 7.6% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −9.0 pts | −6.2 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Downtown Modesto runs well above the national rate: 13.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 9.0 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Downtown Modesto compared with nearby neighborhoods
| Neighborhood | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown Modesto | 2.87 | 35.0 | 11.9% | 72.1% | 11.7% | 1954 | $1,294 | 13.7% | 68.8% | 13.7% |
| West Modesto | 3.78 | 31.7 | 17.6% | 47.0% | 5.1% | 1960 | $1,495 | 10.4% | 63.3% | 10.2% |
| Bystrom | 3.51 | 30.4 | 23.5% | 44.4% | 2.5% | 1977 | $1,216 | 6.8% | 66.1% | 20.5% |
| Shackelford | 3.89 | 27.6 | 31.0% | 48.2% | 5.2% | 1963 | $1,206 | 4.5% | 43.4% | 17.9% |
| South Modesto Acres | 4.25 | 26.2 | 25.8% | 58.2% | 5.2% | 1970 | $1,464 | 3.2% | 58.4% | 11.1% |
| Mayfield | 4.25 | 31.3 | 8.1% | 11.1% | 1.6% | 1999 | $2,584 | 18.7% | 66.7% | 12.9% |
| Crossroads-Riverbank | 3.44 | 34.2 | 6.4% | 8.9% | 1.0% | 2005 | $1,748 | 34.7% | 93.0% | 7.5% |
| Downtown Oakdale | 2.44 | 37.3 | 14.9% | 57.7% | 6.3% | 1963 | $1,468 | 16.0% | 74.6% | 15.6% |
| Downtown Waterford | 3.85 | 29.9 | 23.9% | 47.5% | 5.4% | 1987 | $1,570 | 3.9% | 65.9% | 5.1% |
| Downtown Turlock | 2.88 | 33.9 | 21.5% | 61.7% | 5.7% | 1963 | $1,371 | 21.9% | 72.9% | 12.4% |
| Downtown Newman | 3.04 | 37.4 | 20.1% | 41.6% | 8.0% | 1973 | $1,298 | 10.3% | 72.6% | 11.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: South Park, Buffalo, NY · Clarke Square, Milwaukee, WI · Columbia Street Waterfront District, Brooklyn, NY · Standish, Minneapolis, MN · Crystal City, Arlington, VA · Cumberland, Atlanta, GA · Delhi, Santa Ana, CA · South Winds, Oxnard, CA · South Tabor, Portland, OR · Duclay, Jacksonville, FL
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Downtown Modesto. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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