Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Downey, CA
VS
Richmond, CA
🏆 Downey leads 13 of 22 categories
Downey
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$84,236
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
113,052
Richmond
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
115,619 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Downey, CA
Pros
50% less violent crime than Richmond
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (5.6%)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 58°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Cons
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)
Property crime (2650.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pricier housing — median home is $679,000
Richmond, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 32.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $54k less ($624,800 vs $679,000)
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 81°F
Smaller class sizes — 22.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Property crime (2762.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 5.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Downey
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 115.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Downey
Violent Crime
50% lower
460.5 vs 923.1 per 100k
Downey
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.9% unemployment
Downey
Summer Heat
10.6°F warmer
July avg high 81.4°F vs 70.8°F
Richmond
Median Income
$2,382
$86,618 vs $84,236/yr
Richmond
Median Home Value
$54k less
$624,800 vs $679,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Downey, CA | Richmond, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $679,000⚠ High | $624,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,814⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,853⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,236 | $86,618 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 34.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.2% | 11.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 22.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 32.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% ✓ Higher | 79.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Downey Unified | West Contra Costa Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 58.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F ✓ Warmer | 70.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" ✓ Drier | 24.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,052 | 115,619 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 51.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 21.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Downey's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Richmond's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Downey is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Downey leads 13 of 22 categories. Downey wins 13 and Richmond wins 9. 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 Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($679,000 vs $624,800 median home), income ($84,236 vs $86,618), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Downey, CA and Richmond, CA are about 364 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.