Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hesperia, CA
VS
Richmond, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Hesperia
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,698
Violent Crime Index
137⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,878
Richmond
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
115,619 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hesperia, CA
Pros
Homes cost $287k less ($337,600 vs $624,800)
44% less violent crime than Richmond
Rent averages $417/mo less ($1,436 vs $1,853)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Cons
Violent crime (519.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Richmond by $18,920/yr
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 6.9%)
Longer commutes — 42.4 min average each way
Richmond, CA
Pros
Households earn $18,920 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (6.9%)
More college-educated — 32.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 97°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,800
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Key Differences at a Glance
Hesperia
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Hesperia
Violent Crime
44% lower
519.6 vs 923.1 per 100k
Hesperia
Median Home Value
$287k less
$337,600 vs $624,800
Hesperia
Summer Heat
26.0°F warmer
July avg high 96.8°F vs 70.8°F
Richmond
Median Income
$18,920
$86,618 vs $67,698/yr
Richmond
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
6.9% vs 9.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hesperia, CA | Richmond, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $337,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $624,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,436⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,853⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,698 | $86,618 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.8%⚠ High | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 42.4 min⚠ High | 34.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.3% | 11.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 137⚠ High ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 68 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | C+ (86) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.4:1 | 22.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 10.9% | 32.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.0% | 79.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hesperia Unified | West Contra Costa Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer | 58.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.8°F ✓ Warmer | 70.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.1" ✓ Drier | 24.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,878 | 115,619 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.5% ✓ Higher | 51.9% |
| Under 18 | 29.3% ✓ More | 21.4% |
| Over 65 | 9.9% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hesperia's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Richmond's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Hesperia is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Hesperia wins 11 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 Hesperia to Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($337,600 vs $624,800 median home), income ($67,698 vs $86,618), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hesperia, CA and Richmond, CA are about 373 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.