Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jersey City, NJ
VS
Richardson, TX
🏆 Richardson leads 20 of 23 categories
Jersey City
New Jersey
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,151
Violent Crime Index
148⚠ High
Population
287,899 ✓ Larger
Richardson
Texas
20
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Jersey City, NJ
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (561.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $500,100
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 5.0%)
Richardson, TX
Pros
74% less violent crime than Jersey City
Homes cost $120k less ($379,800 vs $500,100)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 39°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Richardson
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Richardson
Median Income
$3,211
$94,362 vs $91,151/yr
Richardson
Violent Crime
74% lower
146.7 vs 561.6 per 100k
Richardson
Median Home Value
$120k less
$379,800 vs $500,100
Richardson
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.8% unemployment
Richardson
Summer Heat
7.5°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 86.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jersey City, NJ | Richardson, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $500,100⚠ High | $379,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,799⚠ High | $1,725⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $91,151 | $94,362 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 37.0 min⚠ High | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% | 19.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) | A+ (133) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.9% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jersey City Public Schools | RICHARDSON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.4°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.4" | 40.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 1.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 287,899 ✓ Larger | 118,063 |
| Median Age | 34.6 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 29.2% | 51.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | 21.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jersey City's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Richardson's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Richardson is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richardson leads 20 of 23 categories. Jersey City wins 3 and Richardson wins 20. 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 Jersey City to Richardson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($500,100 vs $379,800 median home), income ($91,151 vs $94,362), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jersey City, NJ and Richardson, TX are about 1,356 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.