Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Lauderdale, FL
VS
Richmond, VA
🏆 Richmond leads 11 of 20 categories
Fort Lauderdale
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$75,376 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
182,673
Richmond
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,606
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
227,171 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pros
Households earn $15,770 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 48°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.4%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $417,600
Higher rents — median is $1,627/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Richmond
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Richmond, VA
Pros
Homes cost $109k less ($308,300 vs $417,600)
Rent averages $400/mo less ($1,227 vs $1,627)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Lauderdale
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fort Lauderdale by $15,770/yr
Property crime (3179.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Lauderdale
Median Income
$15,770
$75,376 vs $59,606/yr
Fort Lauderdale
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.1% unemployment
Richmond
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Richmond
Median Home Value
$109k less
$308,300 vs $417,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Richmond, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $417,600⚠ High | $308,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,627⚠ High | $1,227 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $75,376 ✓ Higher | $59,606 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.3 min | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% | 14.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 114⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 89 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 151⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.3% | 44.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWARD | Richmond City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.6°F ✓ Warmer | 47.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 89.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 63.0" | 47.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 8.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 182,673 | 227,171 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 43.2 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 43.2% |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 17.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.3% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Lauderdale's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Richmond's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Richmond is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Richmond leads 11 of 20 categories. Fort Lauderdale wins 9 and Richmond wins 11. 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 Fort Lauderdale to Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($417,600 vs $308,300 median home), income ($75,376 vs $59,606), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Lauderdale, FL and Richmond, VA are about 802 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.