Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Independence, MO
VS
Richmond, CA
🏆 Independence leads 16 of 23 categories
Independence
Missouri
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,415
Violent Crime Index
150⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
122,218 ✓ Larger
Richmond
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
115,619
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Independence, MO
Pros
Homes cost $474k less ($150,800 vs $624,800)
Rent averages $833/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,853)
38% less violent crime than Richmond
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (6.2%)
Cons
Median income trails Richmond by $29,203/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
Richmond, CA
Pros
Households earn $29,203 more per year on average
More college-educated — 32.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 38°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,800
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Independence
Key Differences at a Glance
Independence
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Independence
Violent Crime
38% lower
571.2 vs 923.1 per 100k
Independence
Median Home Value
$474k less
$150,800 vs $624,800
Independence
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
6.2% vs 6.9% unemployment
Independence
Summer Heat
16.1°F warmer
July avg high 86.9°F vs 70.8°F
Richmond
Median Income
$29,203
$86,618 vs $57,415/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Independence, MO | Richmond, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $150,800 ✓ Lower | $624,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,853⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,415 | $86,618 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.9 min ✓ Shorter | 34.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.2% | 11.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.5% | 32.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% ✓ Higher | 79.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | INDEPENDENCE 30 | West Contra Costa Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.6°F | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer | 70.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" | 24.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 122,218 ✓ Larger | 115,619 |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 37.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.5% ✓ Higher | 51.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 21.4% |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 14.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Independence's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Richmond's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Independence is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Independence leads 16 of 23 categories. Independence wins 16 and Richmond wins 7. 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 Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($150,800 vs $624,800 median home), income ($57,415 vs $86,618), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Independence, MO and Richmond, CA are about 1,510 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.