Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Palmdale, CA
VS
Richardson, TX
🏆 Richardson leads 15 of 23 categories
Palmdale
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,414
Violent Crime Index
145⚠ High
Population
166,895 ✓ Larger
Richardson
Texas
15
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.
Palmdale, CA
Pros
Rent averages $100/mo less ($1,625 vs $1,725)
Cons
Violent crime (551.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Richardson by $15,948/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Richardson
Richardson, TX
Pros
73% less violent crime than Palmdale
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 18 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (5.0%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $15,948 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,725/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Palmdale
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 94.3°F
Richardson
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Richardson
Median Income
$15,948
$94,362 vs $78,414/yr
Richardson
Violent Crime
73% lower
146.7 vs 551.0 per 100k
Richardson
Median Home Value
$18k less
$379,800 vs $397,500
Richardson
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
5.0% vs 7.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Palmdale, CA | Richardson, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $397,500⚠ High | $379,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,625⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,725⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,414 | $94,362 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.4%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 41.3 min⚠ High | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% | 19.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 145⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (59) | A+ (133) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.2:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 16.7% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.6% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Palmdale Elementary | RICHARDSON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer | 55.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer | 94.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 7.3" ✓ Drier | 40.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 166,895 ✓ Larger | 118,063 |
| Median Age | 33.0 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.5% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 29.0% ✓ More | 21.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Palmdale's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Richardson's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Richardson is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richardson leads 15 of 23 categories. Palmdale 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 Palmdale to Richardson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($397,500 vs $379,800 median home), income ($78,414 vs $94,362), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Palmdale, CA and Richardson, TX are about 1,232 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.