Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Portsmouth, VA
VS
Richmond, CA
🏆 Portsmouth leads 14 of 23 categories
Portsmouth
Virginia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,154
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
97,384
Richmond
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
115,619 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
Homes cost $412k less ($213,300 vs $624,800)
Rent averages $628/mo less ($1,225 vs $1,853)
18% less violent crime than Richmond
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 13.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Richmond by $29,464/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
Richmond, CA
Pros
Households earn $29,464 more per year on average
More college-educated — 32.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 88°F
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,800
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Portsmouth
Key Differences at a Glance
Portsmouth
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Portsmouth
Violent Crime
18% lower
752.4 vs 923.1 per 100k
Portsmouth
Median Home Value
$412k less
$213,300 vs $624,800
Portsmouth
Summer Heat
17.2°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 70.8°F
Richmond
Median Income
$29,464
$86,618 vs $57,154/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Portsmouth, VA | Richmond, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,300 ✓ Lower | $624,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,225 ✓ Lower | $1,853⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,154 | $86,618 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.2 min ✓ Shorter | 34.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 11.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 192⚠ High ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.2% | 32.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.5% ✓ Higher | 79.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Portsmouth City Public Schools | West Contra Costa Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.8°F | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer | 70.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 24.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,384 | 115,619 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.1% ✓ Higher | 51.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 21.4% |
| Over 65 | 15.1% ✓ More | 14.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Portsmouth's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Richmond's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Portsmouth is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Portsmouth leads 14 of 23 categories. Portsmouth wins 14 and Richmond wins 9. 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 Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,300 vs $624,800 median home), income ($57,154 vs $86,618), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Portsmouth, VA and Richmond, CA are about 2,500 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.