Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Richardson, TX
VS
San Tan Valley, AZ
🏆 San Tan Valley leads 12 of 23 categories
Richardson
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,362 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
118,063 ✓ Larger
San Tan Valley
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$88,466
Violent Crime Index
62
Population
101,207
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Richardson, TX
Pros
38% less violent crime than San Tan Valley
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 104°F
Households earn $5,896 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $379,800
Cost of living runs 3% higher than San Tan Valley
San Tan Valley, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $76k less ($304,000 vs $379,800)
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 56°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Richardson
Cons
Longer commutes — 36.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Median income trails Richardson by $5,896/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Richardson
Median Income
$5,896
$94,362 vs $88,466/yr
Richardson
Violent Crime
38% lower
146.7 vs 235.7 per 100k
San Tan Valley
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 100.0 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
San Tan Valley
Median Home Value
$76k less
$304,000 vs $379,800
San Tan Valley
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.0% unemployment
San Tan Valley
Summer Heat
9.9°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 94.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Richardson, TX | San Tan Valley, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 100.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $379,800⚠ High | $304,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,725⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,729⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,362 ✓ Higher | $88,466 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 19.7% ✓ Higher | 13.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 58 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 62 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 | 46 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.5% ✓ Higher | 22.0% |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% ✓ Higher | 92.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | RICHARDSON ISD | J O Combs Unified School District (4445) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.1" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 118,063 ✓ Larger | 101,207 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% | 80.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Richardson's cost of living index is 103.3 vs San Tan Valley's 100.0 (US average = 100).
San Tan Valley is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Tan Valley leads 12 of 23 categories. Richardson wins 11 and San Tan Valley wins 12. 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 Richardson to San Tan Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($379,800 vs $304,000 median home), income ($94,362 vs $88,466), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Richardson, TX and San Tan Valley, AZ are about 859 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.