Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dallas, TX
VS
Richmond, VA
🏆 Richmond leads 14 of 23 categories
Dallas
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,985 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High
Population
1,300,642 ✓ Larger
Richmond
Virginia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,606
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
227,171
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dallas, TX
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.0%)
Homes cost $38k less ($270,700 vs $308,300)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 48°F
Households earn $4,379 more per year on average
Cons
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
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Richmond
Richmond, VA
Pros
49% less violent crime than Dallas
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 97°F
Rent averages $78/mo less ($1,227 vs $1,305)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Dallas
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $308,300
Property crime (3179.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 5.0%)
Median income trails Dallas by $4,379/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Dallas
Median Income
$4,379
$63,985 vs $59,606/yr
Dallas
Median Home Value
$38k less
$270,700 vs $308,300
Dallas
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.1% unemployment
Dallas
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 96.9°F vs 89.5°F
Richmond
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Richmond
Violent Crime
49% lower
336.9 vs 658.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dallas, TX | Richmond, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $270,700 ✓ Lower | $308,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,305 | $1,227 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,985 ✓ Higher | $59,606 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.4 min | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.9% | 14.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 173⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 160⚠ High | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.5% | 44.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DALLAS ISD | Richmond City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.7°F ✓ Warmer | 47.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.9°F ✓ Warmer | 89.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.4" ✓ Drier | 47.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.7" ✓ Less | 8.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,300,642 ✓ Larger | 227,171 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.9% | 43.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.4% ✓ More | 17.1% |
| Over 65 | 11.0% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dallas's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Richmond's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Richmond is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richmond leads 14 of 23 categories. Dallas wins 9 and Richmond 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 Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($270,700 vs $308,300 median home), income ($63,985 vs $59,606), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dallas, TX and Richmond, VA are about 1,135 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.