Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Richardson, TX
VS
South Gate, CA
🏆 Richardson leads 18 of 23 categories
Richardson
Texas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$94,362 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
118,063 ✓ Larger
South Gate
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,188
Violent Crime Index
138⚠ High
Population
92,381
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Richardson, TX
Pros
72% less violent crime than South Gate
Homes cost $199k less ($379,800 vs $578,900)
Households earn $27,174 more per year on average
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (5.0%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,725/mo
South Gate, CA
Pros
Rent averages $325/mo less ($1,400 vs $1,725)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 94°F
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 56°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $578,900
Median income trails Richardson by $27,174/yr
Violent crime (525.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Richardson
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Richardson
Median Income
$27,174
$94,362 vs $67,188/yr
Richardson
Violent Crime
72% lower
146.7 vs 525.6 per 100k
Richardson
Median Home Value
$199k less
$379,800 vs $578,900
Richardson
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
5.0% vs 7.9% unemployment
Richardson
Summer Heat
12.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 82.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Richardson, TX | South Gate, 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 | $578,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,725⚠ High | $1,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,362 ✓ Higher | $67,188 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 19.7% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 58 ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.5% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% ✓ Higher | 58.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | RICHARDSON ISD | Westbrook Academy District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 82.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.1" | 14.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 118,063 ✓ Larger | 92,381 |
| Median Age | 34.5 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Richardson's cost of living index is 103.3 vs South Gate's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Richardson is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richardson leads 18 of 23 categories. Richardson wins 18 and South Gate wins 5. 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 South Gate or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($379,800 vs $578,900 median home), income ($94,362 vs $67,188), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Richardson, TX and South Gate, CA are about 1,238 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.