Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Compton, CA
VS
Richardson, TX
🏆 Richardson leads 17 of 23 categories
Compton
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,728
Violent Crime Index
335⚠ High
Population
94,822
Richardson
Texas
17
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.
Compton, CA
Pros
Rent averages $261/mo less ($1,464 vs $1,725)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 94°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 56°F
Cons
Median income trails Richardson by $24,634/yr
Violent crime (1271.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $489,400
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Richardson, TX
Pros
88% less violent crime than Compton
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $24,634 more per year on average
Homes cost $110k less ($379,800 vs $489,400)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (5.0%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,725/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Richardson
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Richardson
Median Income
$24,634
$94,362 vs $69,728/yr
Richardson
Violent Crime
88% lower
146.7 vs 1271.7 per 100k
Richardson
Median Home Value
$110k less
$379,800 vs $489,400
Richardson
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
5.0% vs 7.9% unemployment
Richardson
Summer Heat
17.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Compton, CA | Richardson, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $489,400⚠ High | $379,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,725⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,728 | $94,362 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 3.3% | 19.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 261⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 335⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | A+ (133) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 10.4% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.8% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Compton Unified | RICHARDSON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer | 55.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.8" ✓ Drier | 40.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,822 | 118,063 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 21.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Compton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Richardson's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Richardson is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richardson leads 17 of 23 categories. Compton wins 6 and Richardson wins 17. 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 Compton to Richardson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($489,400 vs $379,800 median home), income ($69,728 vs $94,362), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Compton, CA and Richardson, TX are about 1,240 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.