Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dallas, TX
VS
Richardson, TX
🏆 Richardson leads 14 of 20 categories
Dallas
Texas
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,985
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High
Population
1,300,642 ✓ Larger
Richardson
Texas
14
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.
Dallas, TX
Pros
Homes cost $109k less ($270,700 vs $379,800)
Rent averages $420/mo less ($1,305 vs $1,725)
Cons
Median income trails Richardson by $30,377/yr
Violent crime (658.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3351.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Richardson, TX
Pros
78% less violent crime than Dallas
Households earn $30,377 more per year on average
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
Pricier housing — median home is $379,800
Higher rents — median is $1,725/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Dallas
Median Home Value
$109k less
$270,700 vs $379,800
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 103.3 on the COL index
Richardson
Median Income
$30,377
$94,362 vs $63,985/yr
Richardson
Violent Crime
78% lower
146.7 vs 658.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dallas, TX | Richardson, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $270,700 ✓ Lower | $379,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,305 ✓ Lower | $1,725⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,985 | $94,362 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.4 min | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.9% | 19.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 173⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 160⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) | A+ (133) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.5% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DALLAS ISD | RICHARDSON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.7°F ✓ Warmer | 55.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.9°F ✓ Warmer | 94.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.4" | 40.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.7" | 1.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,300,642 ✓ Larger | 118,063 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.9% | 51.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.4% ✓ More | 21.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.0% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dallas's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Richardson's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Richardson leads 14 of 20 categories. Dallas wins 6 and Richardson wins 14. 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 Dallas to Richardson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($270,700 vs $379,800 median home), income ($63,985 vs $94,362), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dallas, TX and Richardson, TX are about 13 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.