Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Independence, MO
VS
Richardson, TX
🏆 Richardson leads 15 of 23 categories
Independence
Missouri
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,415
Violent Crime Index
150⚠ High
Population
122,218 ✓ Larger
Richardson
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
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.
Independence, MO
Pros
Homes cost $229k less ($150,800 vs $379,800)
Rent averages $705/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,725)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Richardson
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Richardson by $36,947/yr
Violent crime (571.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3523.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 5.0%)
Richardson, TX
Pros
Households earn $36,947 more per year on average
74% less violent crime than Independence
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $379,800
Higher rents — median is $1,725/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Independence
Key Differences at a Glance
Independence
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Independence
Median Home Value
$229k less
$150,800 vs $379,800
Richardson
Median Income
$36,947
$94,362 vs $57,415/yr
Richardson
Violent Crime
74% lower
146.7 vs 571.2 per 100k
Richardson
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.2% unemployment
Richardson
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 86.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Independence, MO | Richardson, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $150,800 ✓ Lower | $379,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,725⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,415 | $94,362 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.9 min | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.2% | 19.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 157⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A+ (133) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.5% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | INDEPENDENCE 30 | RICHARDSON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.6°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" | 40.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.2" | 1.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 122,218 ✓ Larger | 118,063 |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.5% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 21.0% |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Independence's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Richardson's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Independence is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richardson leads 15 of 23 categories. Independence wins 8 and Richardson wins 15. 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 Independence to Richardson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($150,800 vs $379,800 median home), income ($57,415 vs $94,362), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Independence, MO and Richardson, TX are about 442 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.