Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Downey, CA
VS
Richardson, TX
🏆 Richardson leads 17 of 23 categories
Downey
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,236
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
113,052
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.
Downey, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 94°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 56°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $679,000
Violent crime (460.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Richardson
Richardson, TX
Pros
Homes cost $299k less ($379,800 vs $679,000)
68% less violent crime than Downey
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.0%)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Richardson
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Richardson
Median Income
$10,126
$94,362 vs $84,236/yr
Richardson
Violent Crime
68% lower
146.7 vs 460.5 per 100k
Richardson
Median Home Value
$299k less
$379,800 vs $679,000
Richardson
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.6% unemployment
Richardson
Summer Heat
12.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Downey, 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 | $679,000⚠ High | $379,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,814⚠ High | $1,725⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,236 | $94,362 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.2% | 19.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A+ (133) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Downey Unified | RICHARDSON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 55.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" ✓ Drier | 40.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,052 | 118,063 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 51.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 21.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Downey'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. Downey 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 Downey to Richardson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($679,000 vs $379,800 median home), income ($84,236 vs $94,362), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Downey, CA and Richardson, TX are about 1,235 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.