Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alafaya, FL
VS
Richardson, TX
🏆 Richardson leads 11 of 20 categories
Alafaya
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,251
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
91,531
Richardson
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,362 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39
Population
118,063 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alafaya, FL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 56°F
Homes cost $18k less ($361,800 vs $379,800)
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Richardson
Cons
Longer commutes — 30.9 min average each way
Richardson, TX
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $379,800
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Alafaya
Key Differences at a Glance
Alafaya
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 101.1 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Alafaya
Median Home Value
$18k less
$361,800 vs $379,800
Alafaya
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.0% unemployment
Richardson
Median Income
$1,111
$94,362 vs $93,251/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alafaya, FL | Richardson, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $361,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $379,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,768⚠ High | $1,725⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,251 | $94,362 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.2% | 19.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 58 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 39 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 87 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) | A+ (133) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.9% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.5% ✓ Higher | 92.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ORANGE | RICHARDSON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.2°F ✓ Warmer | 55.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.2" | 40.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,531 | 118,063 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.9 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.4% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 21.1% ✓ More | 21.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alafaya's cost of living index is 101.1 vs Richardson's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Alafaya is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Richardson leads 11 of 20 categories. Alafaya wins 9 and Richardson wins 11. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Alafaya to Richardson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($361,800 vs $379,800 median home), income ($93,251 vs $94,362), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alafaya, FL and Richardson, TX are about 970 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.