Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Richardson, TX
VS
Tracy, CA
🏆 Richardson leads 16 of 23 categories
Richardson
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$94,362
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
118,063 ✓ Larger
Tracy
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,717 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
79
Population
94,027
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Richardson, TX
Pros
Homes cost $238k less ($379,800 vs $617,300)
51% less violent crime than Tracy
Commutes run 20 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $437/mo less ($1,725 vs $2,162)
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails Tracy by $17,355/yr
Tracy, CA
Pros
Households earn $17,355 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $617,300
Higher rents — median is $2,162/mo
Longer commutes — 43.5 min average each way
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Richardson
Key Differences at a Glance
Richardson
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 107.4 (100 = US avg)
Richardson
Violent Crime
51% lower
146.7 vs 301.4 per 100k
Richardson
Median Home Value
$238k less
$379,800 vs $617,300
Tracy
Median Income
$17,355
$111,717 vs $94,362/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Richardson, TX | Tracy, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $379,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $617,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,725⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,162⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,362 | $111,717 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter | 43.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 19.7% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 58 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | C- (71) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.5% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | RICHARDSON ISD | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 93.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.1" | 12.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 118,063 ✓ Larger | 94,027 |
| Median Age | 34.5 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% | 64.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% ✓ More | 9.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Richardson's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Tracy's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Richardson is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richardson leads 16 of 23 categories. Richardson wins 16 and Tracy wins 7. 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 Tracy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($379,800 vs $617,300 median home), income ($94,362 vs $111,717), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Richardson, TX and Tracy, CA are about 1,428 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.