2025 Compare Cities Education:
Modesto, CA vs Santa Barbara, CA

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Highlights
- Santa Barbara spends 18.8% more per student than Modesto.
- The Student Teacher Ratio is 4.3% lower in Santa Barbara than in Modesto. (lower means fewer students in each classroom).
- Santa Barbara had 5.5% more residents who had graduated High School compared to Modesto
 Modesto, CASanta Barbara, CAUnited States
 Expend. per Student  Unlock$16,705$15,905
 Educ. Expend. per Student$12,636  Unlock$13,142
 Instr. Expend. per Student  Unlock$7,862$7,999
 Pupil/Teacher Ratio21.95  Unlock16.23
 Students per Librarian  Unlock123874573
 Students per Counselor729  Unlock530
 Grade School Educ.  Unlock7.2%4.8%
 Some High School Educ.8.7%  Unlock6.3%
 High School Educ.  Unlock88.0%88.9%
 Some College Educ.26.3%  Unlock20.0%
 2 yr College Grad.  Unlock7.2%8.7%
 4 yr College Grad.19.5%  Unlock33.7%
 Masters Grad.  Unlock12.6%9.3%
 Professional Degree1.6%  Unlock2.2%
 Doctorate Degree  Unlock3.5%1.5%
Reviews for Modesto    35 Reviews

Over 4 years ago

I was born and raised here (still currently live here) and there are some nice areas and not so nice areas. I really think we need to improve our community and create  More

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Over 4 years ago

It's fine. Lived here for over 10 years. Here's my breakdown. CONS: Crime rate: mostly on the westside, unless you live in better developed areas. Summer weather:  More

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I know this website is probably only for adults, which I am not, but I thought perhaps adults would like to hear a kid's perspective of things, you know, if any adult  More

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Reviews for Santa Barbara    51 Reviews

I moved to Santa Barbara around 23 years ago to study at Brooks, which like most of the Santa Barbara that I knew—has been destroyed. Homelessness, drugs, gangs, high  More

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Over 4 years ago

I fell in love with Santa Barbara about thirty years ago and finally moved here a few years ago. Because of the price of homes, it is an expensive place to live. The  More

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If you like high crime, paying a $4,500 a month mortgage and crazy high taxes, this is the place for you. It’s too bad because it wasn’t always like this. When I moved  More

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