Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arden-Arcade, CA
VS
Richardson, TX
🏆 Richardson leads 15 of 23 categories
Arden-Arcade
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,479
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High
Population
96,076
Richardson
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$94,362 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
118,063 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arden-Arcade, CA
Pros
Rent averages $340/mo less ($1,385 vs $1,725)
Cons
Median income trails Richardson by $29,883/yr
Violent crime (518.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $466,300
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 5.0%)
Richardson, TX
Pros
72% less violent crime than Arden-Arcade
Households earn $29,883 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (5.0%)
Homes cost $87k less ($379,800 vs $466,300)
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,725/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Richardson
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Richardson
Median Income
$29,883
$94,362 vs $64,479/yr
Richardson
Violent Crime
72% lower
146.7 vs 518.1 per 100k
Richardson
Median Home Value
$87k less
$379,800 vs $466,300
Richardson
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
5.0% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arden-Arcade, CA | Richardson, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $466,300⚠ High | $379,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,725⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,479 | $94,362 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% | 19.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A+ (133) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.9% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Juan Unified | RICHARDSON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer | 55.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer | 94.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.5" ✓ Drier | 40.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 96,076 | 118,063 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.9% | 51.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 21.0% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arden-Arcade's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Richardson's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Richardson is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richardson leads 15 of 23 categories. Arden-Arcade wins 8 and Richardson wins 15. 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 Arden-Arcade to Richardson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($466,300 vs $379,800 median home), income ($64,479 vs $94,362), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arden-Arcade, CA and Richardson, TX are about 1,432 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.