Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Plano, TX
VS
Richmond, CA
🏆 Plano leads 19 of 23 categories
Plano
Texas
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$105,679 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
284,948 ✓ Larger
Richmond
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
115,619
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Plano, TX
Pros
84% less violent crime than Richmond
Homes cost $212k less ($412,500 vs $624,800)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 58.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $19,061 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.6 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Richmond, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,800
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Median income trails Plano by $19,061/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Plano
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Plano
Median Income
$19,061
$105,679 vs $86,618/yr
Plano
Violent Crime
84% lower
151.6 vs 923.1 per 100k
Plano
Median Home Value
$212k less
$412,500 vs $624,800
Plano
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.9% unemployment
Plano
Summer Heat
23.5°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 70.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Plano, TX | Richmond, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $412,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $624,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,699⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,853⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,679 ✓ Higher | $86,618 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.8 min ✓ Shorter | 34.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 22.3% ✓ Higher | 11.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 52 ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 40 ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (134) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.4% ✓ Higher | 32.1% |
| High School or Higher | 93.6% ✓ Higher | 79.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PLANO ISD | West Contra Costa Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 70.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" | 24.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,948 ✓ Larger | 115,619 |
| Median Age | 38.9 ✓ Older | 37.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.7% ✓ Higher | 51.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.7% ✓ More | 21.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Plano's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Richmond's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Plano is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Plano leads 19 of 23 categories. Plano wins 19 and Richmond wins 4. 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 Plano to Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($412,500 vs $624,800 median home), income ($105,679 vs $86,618), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Plano, TX and Richmond, CA are about 1,475 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.