Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norwalk, CT
VS
Richardson, TX
🏆 Richardson leads 15 of 23 categories
Norwalk
Connecticut
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,879 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
91,050
Richardson
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$94,362
Violent Crime Index
39
Population
118,063 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Norwalk, CT
Pros
42% less violent crime than Richardson
Violent crime is well below the national average (85.0 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 94°F
Households earn $3,517 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $491,800
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 5.0%)
Higher rents — median is $1,861/mo
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Richardson
Richardson, TX
Pros
Homes cost $112k less ($379,800 vs $491,800)
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 38°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Norwalk by $3,517/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Norwalk
Median Income
$3,517
$97,879 vs $94,362/yr
Norwalk
Violent Crime
42% lower
85.0 vs 146.7 per 100k
Richardson
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Richardson
Median Home Value
$112k less
$379,800 vs $491,800
Richardson
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.9% unemployment
Richardson
Summer Heat
9.5°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 84.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norwalk, CT | Richardson, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.5⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $491,800⚠ High | $379,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,861⚠ High | $1,725⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,879 ✓ Higher | $94,362 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% | 19.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 42 ✓ Safer | 58 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 22 ✓ Safer | 39 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 87 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) | A+ (133) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.6% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Norwalk School District | RICHARDSON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.0°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.8°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.4" | 40.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.0" | 1.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,050 | 118,063 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.0 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.8% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 21.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norwalk's cost of living index is 106.5 vs Richardson's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Richardson is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richardson leads 15 of 23 categories. Norwalk wins 8 and Richardson wins 15. 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 Norwalk to Richardson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($491,800 vs $379,800 median home), income ($97,879 vs $94,362), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norwalk, CT and Richardson, TX are about 1,396 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.