Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allen, TX
VS
Richmond, CA
🏆 Allen leads 18 of 23 categories
Allen
Texas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$121,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
28 ✓ Safer
Population
105,444
Richmond
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
115,619 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allen, TX
Pros
88% less violent crime than Richmond
Homes cost $235k less ($390,200 vs $624,800)
Households earn $34,641 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (4.3%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (106.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 55.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Richmond, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,800
Median income trails Allen by $34,641/yr
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Key Differences at a Glance
Allen
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Allen
Median Income
$34,641
$121,259 vs $86,618/yr
Allen
Violent Crime
88% lower
106.4 vs 923.1 per 100k
Allen
Median Home Value
$235k less
$390,200 vs $624,800
Allen
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
4.3% vs 6.9% unemployment
Allen
Summer Heat
24.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 70.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allen, TX | Richmond, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $390,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $624,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,747⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,853⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,259 ✓ Higher | $86,618 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min ✓ Shorter | 34.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 21.4% ✓ Higher | 11.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 28 ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.2% ✓ Higher | 32.1% |
| High School or Higher | 95.8% ✓ Higher | 79.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALLEN ISD | West Contra Costa Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.5°F | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer | 70.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" | 24.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,444 | 115,619 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.8 ✓ Older | 37.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 51.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 21.4% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allen's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Richmond's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Allen is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Allen leads 18 of 23 categories. Allen wins 18 and Richmond wins 5. 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 Allen to Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($390,200 vs $624,800 median home), income ($121,259 vs $86,618), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allen, TX and Richmond, CA are about 1,478 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.