Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boulder, CO
VS
Richardson, TX
🏆 Richardson leads 18 of 23 categories
Boulder
Colorado
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,243
Violent Crime Index
85
Population
106,598
Richardson
Texas
18
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.
Boulder, CO
Pros
More college-educated — 76.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $919,700
Median income trails Richardson by $14,119/yr
Property crime (2733.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Richardson, TX
Pros
Homes cost $540k less ($379,800 vs $919,700)
54% less violent crime than Boulder
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $14,119 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 47°F
Rent averages $128/mo less ($1,725 vs $1,853)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Richardson
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 107.2 (100 = US avg)
Richardson
Median Income
$14,119
$94,362 vs $80,243/yr
Richardson
Violent Crime
54% lower
146.7 vs 322.3 per 100k
Richardson
Median Home Value
$540k less
$379,800 vs $919,700
Richardson
Summer Heat
6.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 88.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boulder, CO | Richardson, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.2⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $919,700⚠ High | $379,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $1,725⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,243 | $94,362 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 23.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 28.0% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 85 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) | A+ (133) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 55.5% |
| High School or Higher | 96.9% ✓ Higher | 92.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 | RICHARDSON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.0°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 40.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 85.2" | 1.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,598 | 118,063 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.2% | 51.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 11.7% | 21.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boulder's cost of living index is 107.2 vs Richardson's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Richardson is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richardson leads 18 of 23 categories. Boulder wins 5 and Richardson wins 18. 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 Boulder to Richardson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($919,700 vs $379,800 median home), income ($80,243 vs $94,362), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boulder, CO and Richardson, TX are about 679 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.