Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Richardson, TX
VS
Washington, DC
🏆 Richardson leads 15 of 22 categories
Richardson
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$94,362
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
118,063
Washington
District of Columbia
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$101,722 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
244⚠ High
Population
670,587 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Richardson, TX
Pros
Homes cost $325k less ($379,800 vs $705,000)
84% less violent crime than Washington
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (5.0%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Washington by $7,360/yr
Washington, DC
Pros
More college-educated — 62.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $7,360 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $705,000
Violent crime (925.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3588.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Richardson
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Richardson
Violent Crime
84% lower
146.7 vs 925.9 per 100k
Richardson
Median Home Value
$325k less
$379,800 vs $705,000
Richardson
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
5.0% vs 7.1% unemployment
Richardson
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 89.8°F
Washington
Median Income
$7,360
$101,722 vs $94,362/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Richardson, TX | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 108.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $379,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $705,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,725⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,817⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,362 | $101,722 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 19.7% | 25.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 58 ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 244⚠ 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 | A (119) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.5% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% | 92.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | RICHARDSON ISD | District of Columbia Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer | 44.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 89.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.1" ✓ Drier | 45.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.7" ✓ Less | 9.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 118,063 | 670,587 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 34.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% ✓ Higher | 41.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Richardson's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Washington's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Richardson is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Richardson leads 15 of 22 categories. Richardson wins 15 and Washington 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 Washington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($379,800 vs $705,000 median home), income ($94,362 vs $101,722), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Richardson, TX and Washington, DC are about 1,172 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.