Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Richardson, TX
VS
Temecula, 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 ✓ Larger
Temecula
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,881 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40
Population
110,114
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Richardson, TX
Pros
Homes cost $225k less ($379,800 vs $604,300)
Rent averages $497/mo less ($1,725 vs $2,222)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.0%)
Cons
Median income trails Temecula by $17,519/yr
Temecula, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.5 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $17,519 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 56°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $604,300
Higher rents — median is $2,222/mo
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 5.0%)
Longer commutes — 36.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Richardson
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Richardson
Median Home Value
$225k less
$379,800 vs $604,300
Richardson
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.8% unemployment
Richardson
Summer Heat
7.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 87.2°F
Temecula
Median Income
$17,519
$111,881 vs $94,362/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Richardson, TX | Temecula, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $379,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $604,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,725⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,222⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,362 | $111,881 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 19.7% ✓ Higher | 14.3% |
| 🔒 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 | 40 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.5% ✓ Higher | 38.1% |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | RICHARDSON ISD | Temecula Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 87.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.1" | 15.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.7" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 118,063 ✓ Larger | 110,114 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 36.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% | 68.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Richardson's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Temecula's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Richardson is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richardson leads 13 of 23 categories. Richardson wins 13 and Temecula 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 Temecula or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($379,800 vs $604,300 median home), income ($94,362 vs $111,881), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Richardson, TX and Temecula, CA are about 1,179 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.