Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Providence, RI
VS
Richardson, TX
🏆 Richardson leads 18 of 23 categories
Providence
Rhode Island
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,365
Violent Crime Index
73
Population
189,715 ✓ Larger
Richardson
Texas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
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.
Providence, RI
Pros
Rent averages $511/mo less ($1,214 vs $1,725)
Homes cost $87k less ($293,000 vs $379,800)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Richardson
Cons
Median income trails Richardson by $32,997/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.0%)
Richardson, TX
Pros
Households earn $32,997 more per year on average
47% less violent crime than Providence
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.0%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 38°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,725/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $379,800
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Providence
Key Differences at a Glance
Providence
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Providence
Median Home Value
$87k less
$293,000 vs $379,800
Richardson
Median Income
$32,997
$94,362 vs $61,365/yr
Richardson
Violent Crime
47% lower
146.7 vs 276.7 per 100k
Richardson
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.0% vs 7.2% unemployment
Richardson
Summer Heat
10.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 83.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Providence, RI | Richardson, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $293,000 ✓ Lower | $379,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,214 ✓ Lower | $1,725⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,365 | $94,362 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% | 19.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 87 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | A+ (133) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.5% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Providence | RICHARDSON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.3°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.5" | 40.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.6" | 1.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 189,715 ✓ Larger | 118,063 |
| Median Age | 32.3 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.9% | 51.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 21.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.8% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Providence's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Richardson's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Providence is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richardson leads 18 of 23 categories. Providence wins 5 and Richardson wins 18. 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 Providence to Richardson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($293,000 vs $379,800 median home), income ($61,365 vs $94,362), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Providence, RI and Richardson, TX are about 1,510 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.