Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Richardson, TX
VS
Santa Clarita, CA
🏆 Richardson leads 13 of 23 categories
Richardson
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$94,362
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
118,063
Santa Clarita
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,186 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44
Population
225,850 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Richardson, TX
Pros
Homes cost $289k less ($379,800 vs $669,200)
Rent averages $590/mo less ($1,725 vs $2,315)
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Clarita
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clarita by $21,824/yr
Santa Clarita, CA
Pros
Households earn $21,824 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 56°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $669,200
Higher rents — median is $2,315/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Richardson
Key Differences at a Glance
Richardson
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Richardson
Violent Crime
11% lower
146.7 vs 165.4 per 100k
Richardson
Median Home Value
$289k less
$379,800 vs $669,200
Richardson
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.5% unemployment
Santa Clarita
Median Income
$21,824
$116,186 vs $94,362/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Richardson, TX | Santa Clarita, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $379,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $669,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,725⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,315⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,362 | $116,186 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter | 35.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 19.7% ✓ Higher | 13.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 58 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 44 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.5% ✓ Higher | 38.7% |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | RICHARDSON ISD | Saugus Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 94.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.1" | 15.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.7" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 118,063 | 225,850 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Richardson's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Santa Clarita's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Richardson is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richardson leads 13 of 23 categories. Richardson wins 13 and Santa Clarita wins 10. 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 Santa Clarita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($379,800 vs $669,200 median home), income ($94,362 vs $116,186), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Richardson, TX and Santa Clarita, CA are about 1,254 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.