Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Goodyear, AZ
VS
Richmond, VA
🏆 Goodyear leads 15 of 23 categories
Goodyear
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,307 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
97,542
Richmond
Virginia
8
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.
Goodyear, AZ
Pros
Households earn $37,701 more per year on average
46% less violent crime than Richmond
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 48°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,711/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $396,100
Longer commutes — 29.7 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Richmond, VA
Pros
Rent averages $484/mo less ($1,227 vs $1,711)
Homes cost $88k less ($308,300 vs $396,100)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 107°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Goodyear by $37,701/yr
Property crime (3179.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Goodyear
Median Income
$37,701
$97,307 vs $59,606/yr
Goodyear
Violent Crime
46% lower
182.2 vs 336.9 per 100k
Goodyear
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.1% unemployment
Goodyear
Summer Heat
17.9°F warmer
July avg high 107.4°F vs 89.5°F
Richmond
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 101.2 (100 = US avg)
Richmond
Median Home Value
$88k less
$308,300 vs $396,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Goodyear, AZ | Richmond, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.2⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $396,100⚠ High | $308,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,711⚠ High | $1,227 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,307 ✓ Higher | $59,606 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.2% ✓ Higher | 14.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 57 ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.7% | 44.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Incito Schools (91326) | Richmond City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 47.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 107.4°F ✓ Warmer | 89.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.0" ✓ Drier | 47.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 8.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,542 | 227,171 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.4 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 77.8% ✓ Higher | 43.2% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 17.1% |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Goodyear's cost of living index is 101.2 vs Richmond's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Richmond is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Goodyear leads 15 of 23 categories. Goodyear wins 15 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 Goodyear to Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($396,100 vs $308,300 median home), income ($97,307 vs $59,606), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Goodyear, AZ and Richmond, VA are about 1,976 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.