Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mesa, AZ
VS
Richmond, VA
🏆 Mesa leads 15 of 23 categories
Mesa
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$73,766 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
503,390 ✓ Larger
Richmond
Virginia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,606
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
227,171
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Mesa, AZ
Pros
Households earn $14,160 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 48°F
Cons
Violent crime (482.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,352/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Pricier housing — median home is $327,700
Richmond, VA
Pros
30% less violent crime than Mesa
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 106°F
Rent averages $125/mo less ($1,227 vs $1,352)
Homes cost $19k less ($308,300 vs $327,700)
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Mesa by $14,160/yr
Property crime (3179.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Mesa
Median Income
$14,160
$73,766 vs $59,606/yr
Mesa
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.1% unemployment
Mesa
Summer Heat
16.4°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 89.5°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 98.4 on the COL index
Richmond
Violent Crime
30% lower
336.9 vs 482.7 per 100k
Richmond
Median Home Value
$19k less
$308,300 vs $327,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mesa, AZ | Richmond, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $327,700⚠ High | $308,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,352⚠ High | $1,227 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,766 ✓ Higher | $59,606 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% ✓ Higher | 14.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% | 44.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mesa Unified District (4235) | Richmond City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer | 47.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer | 89.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 9.8" ✓ Drier | 47.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 8.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 503,390 ✓ Larger | 227,171 |
| Median Age | 36.8 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.2% ✓ Higher | 43.2% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 17.1% |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mesa's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Richmond's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Richmond is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mesa leads 15 of 23 categories. Mesa wins 15 and Richmond wins 8. 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 Mesa to Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,700 vs $308,300 median home), income ($73,766 vs $59,606), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mesa, AZ and Richmond, VA are about 1,937 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.