Head-to-Head · City Comparison
McAllen, TX
VS
Richmond, VA
🏆 McAllen leads 14 of 23 categories
McAllen
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
142,722
Richmond
Virginia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$59,606 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
227,171 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
McAllen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $150k less ($158,700 vs $308,300)
55% less violent crime than Richmond
Rent averages $272/mo less ($955 vs $1,227)
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.4%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Cons
Median income trails Richmond by $3,280/yr
Richmond, VA
Pros
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 98°F
Households earn $3,280 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $308,300
Cost of living runs 12% higher than McAllen
Property crime (3179.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
McAllen
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Violent Crime
55% lower
150.0 vs 336.9 per 100k
McAllen
Median Home Value
$150k less
$158,700 vs $308,300
McAllen
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.1% unemployment
McAllen
Summer Heat
8.0°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 89.5°F
Richmond
Median Income
$3,280
$59,606 vs $56,326/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | McAllen, TX | Richmond, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $158,700 ✓ Lower | $308,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $955 ✓ Lower | $1,227 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,326 | $59,606 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 22.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.5% | 14.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% | 44.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MCALLEN ISD | Richmond City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer | 47.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer | 89.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 27.4" ✓ Drier | 47.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 8.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,722 | 227,171 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.4% ✓ Higher | 43.2% |
| Under 18 | 28.3% ✓ More | 17.1% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
McAllen's cost of living index is 85.6 vs Richmond's 98.0 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McAllen leads 14 of 23 categories. McAllen wins 14 and Richmond wins 9. 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 McAllen to Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,700 vs $308,300 median home), income ($56,326 vs $59,606), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
McAllen, TX and Richmond, VA are about 1,442 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.