Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Indianapolis, IN
VS
Richardson, TX
🏆 Richardson leads 15 of 23 categories
Indianapolis
Indiana
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,110
Violent Crime Index
231⚠ High
Population
882,006 ✓ 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.
Indianapolis, IN
Pros
Homes cost $195k less ($184,600 vs $379,800)
Rent averages $679/mo less ($1,046 vs $1,725)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Richardson
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.6)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Richardson by $35,252/yr
Violent crime (877.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3336.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Richardson, TX
Pros
83% less violent crime than Indianapolis
Households earn $35,252 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 34°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $379,800
Higher rents — median is $1,725/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Indianapolis
Key Differences at a Glance
Indianapolis
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Indianapolis
Median Home Value
$195k less
$184,600 vs $379,800
Richardson
Median Income
$35,252
$94,362 vs $59,110/yr
Richardson
Violent Crime
83% lower
146.7 vs 877.9 per 100k
Richardson
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.6% unemployment
Richardson
Summer Heat
10.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 83.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Indianapolis, IN | Richardson, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $184,600 ✓ Lower | $379,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,046 ✓ Lower | $1,725⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,110 | $94,362 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.0 min | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.3% | 19.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 202⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 231⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 159⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | A+ (133) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.4% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indianapolis Public Schools | RICHARDSON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.2°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.7°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.2" | 40.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 25.5" | 1.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 882,006 ✓ Larger | 118,063 |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 21.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Indianapolis's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Richardson's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Indianapolis is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richardson leads 15 of 23 categories. Indianapolis 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 Indianapolis to Richardson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,600 vs $379,800 median home), income ($59,110 vs $94,362), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Indianapolis, IN and Richardson, TX are about 752 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.