Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Greensboro, NC
VS
Richmond, VA
🏆 Greensboro leads 12 of 22 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
Virginia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$59,606 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
227,171
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Greensboro, NC
Pros
Homes cost $111k less ($197,200 vs $308,300)
Rent averages $179/mo less ($1,048 vs $1,227)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.5%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Cons
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
Median income trails Richmond by $4,555/yr
Richmond, VA
Pros
64% less violent crime than Greensboro
Households earn $4,555 more per year on average
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $308,300
Property crime (3179.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Greensboro
Key Differences at a Glance
Greensboro
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Greensboro
Median Home Value
$111k less
$197,200 vs $308,300
Greensboro
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.1% unemployment
Richmond
Median Income
$4,555
$59,606 vs $55,051/yr
Richmond
Violent Crime
64% lower
336.9 vs 923.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Greensboro, NC | Richmond, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $197,200 ✓ Lower | $308,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,048 ✓ Lower | $1,227 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $55,051 | $59,606 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 22.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% | 14.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 210⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 161⚠ High | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.9% | 44.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.1% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Guilford County Schools | Richmond City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.0°F ✓ Warmer | 47.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F | 89.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.9" ✓ Drier | 47.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.1" ✓ Less | 8.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 297,202 ✓ Larger | 227,171 |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.6% ✓ Higher | 43.2% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% ✓ More | 17.1% |
| Over 65 | 13.6% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Greensboro's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Richmond's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Greensboro is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Greensboro leads 12 of 22 categories. Greensboro wins 12 and Richmond wins 10. 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 $308,300 median home), income ($55,051 vs $59,606), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Greensboro, NC and Richmond, VA are about 164 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.