Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Greensboro, NC
VS
Richmond, CA
🏆 Greensboro leads 12 of 23 categories
Greensboro
North Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,051
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
297,202 ✓ Larger
Richmond
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
115,619
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Greensboro, NC
Pros
Homes cost $428k less ($197,200 vs $624,800)
Rent averages $805/mo less ($1,048 vs $1,853)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.5%)
More college-educated — 39.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Richmond by $31,567/yr
Violent crime (923.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3383.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Richmond, CA
Pros
Households earn $31,567 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 89°F
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 50°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,800
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Greensboro
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Greensboro
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Greensboro
Median Home Value
$428k less
$197,200 vs $624,800
Greensboro
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.9% unemployment
Greensboro
Summer Heat
17.8°F warmer
July avg high 88.6°F vs 70.8°F
Richmond
Median Income
$31,567
$86,618 vs $55,051/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Greensboro, NC | Richmond, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $197,200 ✓ Lower | $624,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,048 ✓ Lower | $1,853⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $55,051 | $86,618 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 34.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% | 11.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 210⚠ High | 198⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 243⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 161⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.9% ✓ Higher | 32.1% |
| High School or Higher | 90.1% ✓ Higher | 79.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Guilford County Schools | West Contra Costa Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.0°F | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer | 70.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.9" | 24.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 297,202 ✓ Larger | 115,619 |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.6% | 51.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.1% ✓ More | 21.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.6% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Greensboro's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Richmond's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Greensboro is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Greensboro leads 12 of 23 categories. Greensboro wins 12 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 Greensboro to Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($197,200 vs $624,800 median home), income ($55,051 vs $86,618), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Greensboro, NC and Richmond, CA are about 2,329 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.