Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boca Raton, FL
VS
Richmond, VA
🏆 Boca Raton leads 16 of 23 categories
Boca Raton
Florida
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
97,980
Richmond
Virginia
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,606
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
227,171 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boca Raton, FL
Pros
Households earn $35,964 more per year on average
49% less violent crime than Richmond
Violent crime is well below the national average (171.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 48°F
More college-educated — 59.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,100
Higher rents — median is $2,170/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Richmond
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Richmond, VA
Pros
Homes cost $289k less ($308,300 vs $597,100)
Rent averages $943/mo less ($1,227 vs $2,170)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Boca Raton
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Boca Raton by $35,964/yr
Property crime (3179.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Boca Raton
Median Income
$35,964
$95,570 vs $59,606/yr
Boca Raton
Violent Crime
49% lower
171.0 vs 336.9 per 100k
Richmond
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Richmond
Median Home Value
$289k less
$308,300 vs $597,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | Richmond, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,100⚠ High | $308,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,170⚠ High | $1,227 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,570 ✓ Higher | $59,606 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 22.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 18.0% ✓ Higher | 14.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.0% ✓ Higher | 44.1% |
| High School or Higher | 96.0% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PALM BEACH | Richmond City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.3°F ✓ Warmer | 47.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 89.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.6" | 47.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 8.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,980 | 227,171 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 47.1 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 43.2% |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 17.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 25.7% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boca Raton's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Richmond's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Richmond is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boca Raton leads 16 of 23 categories. Boca Raton wins 16 and Richmond wins 7. 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 Boca Raton to Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,100 vs $308,300 median home), income ($95,570 vs $59,606), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boca Raton, FL and Richmond, VA are about 786 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.