Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Indio, CA
VS
Richardson, TX
🏆 Indio leads 12 of 23 categories
Indio
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$68,436
Violent Crime Index
88
Population
89,616
Richardson
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$94,362 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
118,063 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Indio, CA
Pros
Rent averages $381/mo less ($1,344 vs $1,725)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 56°F
Cons
Median income trails Richardson by $25,926/yr
Higher unemployment (7.3% vs 5.0%)
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Richardson
Richardson, TX
Pros
56% less violent crime than Indio
Households earn $25,926 more per year on average
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (5.0%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 106°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,725/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Indio
Summer Heat
11.5°F warmer
July avg high 105.8°F vs 94.3°F
Richardson
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Richardson
Median Income
$25,926
$94,362 vs $68,436/yr
Richardson
Violent Crime
56% lower
146.7 vs 336.2 per 100k
Richardson
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
5.0% vs 7.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Indio, CA | Richardson, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $373,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $379,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,344⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,725⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $68,436 | $94,362 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.3%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 23.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.7% | 19.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 87 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | A+ (133) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.4% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.4% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Desert Sands Unified | RICHARDSON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.3°F ✓ Warmer | 55.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.8°F ✓ Warmer | 94.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 2.9" ✓ Drier | 40.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,616 | 118,063 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.2 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.3% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 21.0% |
| Over 65 | 19.2% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Indio's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Richardson's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Richardson is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Indio leads 12 of 23 categories. Indio wins 12 and Richardson 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 Indio to Richardson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($373,200 vs $379,800 median home), income ($68,436 vs $94,362), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Indio, CA and Richardson, TX are about 1,127 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.