Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, CA
VS
Richardson, TX
🏆 Richardson leads 17 of 23 categories
Glendale
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,219
Violent Crime Index
76
Population
194,512 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Glendale, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 56°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $992,000
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Median income trails Richardson by $13,143/yr
Higher rents — median is $2,002/mo
Richardson, TX
Pros
Homes cost $612k less ($379,800 vs $992,000)
49% less violent crime than Glendale
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (5.0%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $13,143 more per year on average
Rent averages $277/mo less ($1,725 vs $2,002)
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
$13,143
$94,362 vs $81,219/yr
Richardson
Violent Crime
49% lower
146.7 vs 287.2 per 100k
Richardson
Median Home Value
$612k less
$379,800 vs $992,000
Richardson
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
5.0% vs 8.1% unemployment
Richardson
Summer Heat
8.5°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 85.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, 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 | $992,000⚠ High | $379,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,002⚠ High | $1,725⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,219 | $94,362 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% | 19.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 76 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | A+ (133) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.6:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.8% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Glendale Unified | RICHARDSON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer | 55.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.8°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" ✓ Drier | 40.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 194,512 ✓ Larger | 118,063 |
| Median Age | 41.1 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.2% | 51.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | 21.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale'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. Glendale 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 Glendale to Richardson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($992,000 vs $379,800 median home), income ($81,219 vs $94,362), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, CA and Richardson, TX are about 1,240 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.