Head-to-Head · City Comparison
East Los Angeles, CA
VS
Richmond, CA
🏆 East Los Angeles leads 14 of 22 categories
East Los Angeles
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,119
Violent Crime Index
147⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,222 ✓ Larger
Richmond
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
115,619
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
East Los Angeles, CA
Pros
40% less violent crime than Richmond
Rent averages $484/mo less ($1,369 vs $1,853)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (6.3%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 58°F
Homes cost $42k less ($582,400 vs $624,800)
Cons
Median income trails Richmond by $22,499/yr
Violent crime (558.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Richmond, CA
Pros
Households earn $22,499 more per year on average
More college-educated — 32.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 82°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
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
Key Differences at a Glance
East Los Angeles
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 115.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
East Los Angeles
Violent Crime
40% lower
558.4 vs 923.1 per 100k
East Los Angeles
Median Home Value
$42k less
$582,400 vs $624,800
East Los Angeles
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
6.3% vs 6.9% unemployment
East Los Angeles
Summer Heat
11.2°F warmer
July avg high 82.0°F vs 70.8°F
Richmond
Median Income
$22,499
$86,618 vs $64,119/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | East Los Angeles, 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 | $582,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $624,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,853⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,119 | $86,618 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 34.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% | 11.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (68) | C+ (86) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 11.0% | 32.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 55.4% | 79.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Animo Ellen Ochoa Charter Middle District | West Contra Costa Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer | 58.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.0°F ✓ Warmer | 70.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" ✓ Drier | 24.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,222 ✓ Larger | 115,619 |
| Median Age | 33.2 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.9% | 51.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 21.4% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
East Los Angeles's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Richmond's 118.2 (US average = 100).
East Los Angeles is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, East Los Angeles leads 14 of 22 categories. East Los Angeles wins 14 and Richmond wins 8. 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 East Los Angeles to Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($582,400 vs $624,800 median home), income ($64,119 vs $86,618), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
East Los Angeles, CA and Richmond, CA are about 358 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.