Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norman, OK
VS
Richardson, TX
🏆 Richardson leads 14 of 23 categories
Norman
Oklahoma
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,849
Violent Crime Index
68
Population
127,701 ✓ Larger
Richardson
Texas
14
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.
Norman, OK
Pros
Rent averages $721/mo less ($1,004 vs $1,725)
Homes cost $155k less ($224,900 vs $379,800)
Violent crime is well below the national average (260.2 vs 380/100k)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Richardson
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Median income trails Richardson by $31,513/yr
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 5.0%)
Richardson, TX
Pros
Households earn $31,513 more per year on average
44% less violent crime than Norman
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 50°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,725/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $379,800
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Norman
Key Differences at a Glance
Norman
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Norman
Median Home Value
$155k less
$224,900 vs $379,800
Richardson
Median Income
$31,513
$94,362 vs $62,849/yr
Richardson
Violent Crime
44% lower
146.7 vs 260.2 per 100k
Richardson
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norman, OK | Richardson, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $224,900 ✓ Lower | $379,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,004 ✓ Lower | $1,725⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,849 | $94,362 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.6 min ✓ Shorter | 23.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% | 19.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 68 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A+ (133) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.6% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 92.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NORMAN | RICHARDSON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.9°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.6" ✓ Drier | 40.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.1" | 1.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,701 ✓ Larger | 118,063 |
| Median Age | 31.0 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.4% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 21.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norman's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Richardson's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Norman is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richardson leads 14 of 23 categories. Norman wins 9 and Richardson wins 14. 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 Norman to Richardson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($224,900 vs $379,800 median home), income ($62,849 vs $94,362), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norman, OK and Richardson, TX are about 161 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.