Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Portsmouth, VA
VS
Richardson, TX
🏆 Richardson leads 14 of 23 categories
Portsmouth
Virginia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,154
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
97,384
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 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
Homes cost $167k less ($213,300 vs $379,800)
Rent averages $500/mo less ($1,225 vs $1,725)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 94°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Richardson
Cons
Median income trails Richardson by $37,208/yr
Violent crime (752.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3860.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.0%)
Richardson, TX
Pros
81% less violent crime than Portsmouth
Households earn $37,208 more per year on average
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $379,800
Higher rents — median is $1,725/mo
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Portsmouth
Key Differences at a Glance
Portsmouth
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Portsmouth
Median Home Value
$167k less
$213,300 vs $379,800
Richardson
Median Income
$37,208
$94,362 vs $57,154/yr
Richardson
Violent Crime
81% lower
146.7 vs 752.4 per 100k
Richardson
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.6% unemployment
Richardson
Summer Heat
6.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 88.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Portsmouth, VA | Richardson, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,300 ✓ Lower | $379,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,225 ✓ Lower | $1,725⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,154 | $94,362 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.2 min ✓ Shorter | 23.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 19.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 192⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A+ (133) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.2% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.5% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Portsmouth City Public Schools | RICHARDSON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.8°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 40.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.0" | 1.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,384 | 118,063 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.1% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 21.0% |
| Over 65 | 15.1% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Portsmouth's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Richardson's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Portsmouth is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richardson leads 14 of 23 categories. Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth to Richardson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,300 vs $379,800 median home), income ($57,154 vs $94,362), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Portsmouth, VA and Richardson, TX are about 1,181 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.