Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anaheim, CA
VS
Richmond, VA
🏆 Richmond leads 13 of 23 categories
Anaheim
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,538 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
347,111 ✓ Larger
Richmond
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,606
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
227,171
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Anaheim, CA
Pros
Households earn $28,932 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $713,600
Higher rents — median is $1,958/mo
Violent crime (596.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Richmond
Richmond, VA
Pros
Homes cost $405k less ($308,300 vs $713,600)
Rent averages $731/mo less ($1,227 vs $1,958)
43% less violent crime than Anaheim
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Anaheim
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Anaheim by $28,932/yr
Property crime (3179.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Anaheim
Median Income
$28,932
$88,538 vs $59,606/yr
Anaheim
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.1% unemployment
Richmond
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Richmond
Violent Crime
43% lower
336.9 vs 596.2 per 100k
Richmond
Median Home Value
$405k less
$308,300 vs $713,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anaheim, CA | Richmond, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $713,600⚠ High | $308,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,958⚠ High | $1,227 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,538 ✓ Higher | $59,606 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.4 min⚠ High | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.8% | 14.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (74) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.0:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 44.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.8% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anaheim Elementary | Richmond City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.0°F ✓ Warmer | 47.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F | 89.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" ✓ Drier | 47.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 8.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 347,111 ✓ Larger | 227,171 |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% ✓ Higher | 43.2% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 17.1% |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anaheim's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Richmond's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Richmond is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richmond leads 13 of 23 categories. Anaheim wins 10 and Richmond wins 13. 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 Anaheim to Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($713,600 vs $308,300 median home), income ($88,538 vs $59,606), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anaheim, CA and Richmond, VA are about 2,257 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.