Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Atlanta, GA
VS
Richardson, TX
🏆 Richardson leads 15 of 23 categories
Atlanta
Georgia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,655
Violent Crime Index
221⚠ High
Population
494,838 ✓ Larger
Richardson
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,362 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
118,063
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Atlanta, GA
Pros
Rent averages $213/mo less ($1,512 vs $1,725)
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Richardson
Cons
Violent crime (840.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Richardson by $16,707/yr
Property crime (3748.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 5.0%)
Richardson, TX
Pros
83% less violent crime than Atlanta
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $16,707 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.0%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Homes cost $16k less ($379,800 vs $395,600)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,725/mo
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Atlanta
Key Differences at a Glance
Atlanta
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Richardson
Median Income
$16,707
$94,362 vs $77,655/yr
Richardson
Violent Crime
83% lower
146.7 vs 840.6 per 100k
Richardson
Median Home Value
$16k less
$379,800 vs $395,600
Richardson
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.8% unemployment
Richardson
Summer Heat
4.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 90.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Atlanta, GA | Richardson, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $395,600⚠ High | $379,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,512⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,725⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,655 | $94,362 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 204⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) | A+ (133) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.3% ✓ Higher | 55.5% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 92.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Atlanta Public Schools | RICHARDSON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 53.7°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.0°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" | 40.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 1.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 494,838 ✓ Larger | 118,063 |
| Median Age | 33.6 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.7% | 51.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.2% | 21.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Atlanta's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Richardson's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Atlanta is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richardson leads 15 of 23 categories. Atlanta 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 Atlanta to Richardson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($395,600 vs $379,800 median home), income ($77,655 vs $94,362), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Atlanta, GA and Richardson, TX are about 711 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.