Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Richmond, CA
VS
Roanoke, VA
🏆 Roanoke leads 15 of 23 categories
Richmond
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
115,619 ✓ Larger
Roanoke
Virginia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,523
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,213
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Richmond, CA
Pros
Households earn $35,095 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 88°F
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 47°F
More college-educated — 32.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,800
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Cost of living runs 27% higher than Roanoke
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Roanoke, VA
Pros
Homes cost $463k less ($162,000 vs $624,800)
Rent averages $936/mo less ($917 vs $1,853)
33% less violent crime than Richmond
27% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Cons
Median income trails Richmond by $35,095/yr
Violent crime (620.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4055.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Richmond
Median Income
$35,095
$86,618 vs $51,523/yr
Roanoke
Cost of Living
27% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Roanoke
Violent Crime
33% lower
620.4 vs 923.1 per 100k
Roanoke
Median Home Value
$463k less
$162,000 vs $624,800
Roanoke
Summer Heat
17.3°F warmer
July avg high 88.1°F vs 70.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Richmond, CA | Roanoke, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $624,800⚠ High | $162,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,618 ✓ Higher | $51,523 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.6 min⚠ High | 20.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.2% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 198⚠ High | 175⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (86) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.0:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.1% ✓ Higher | 28.4% |
| High School or Higher | 79.4% | 89.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | West Contra Costa Unified | Roanoke City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer | 47.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 70.8°F | 88.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" ✓ Drier | 42.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 14.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,619 ✓ Larger | 99,213 |
| Median Age | 37.1 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.9% | 52.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 22.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 17.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Richmond's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Roanoke's 90.9 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 27% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roanoke leads 15 of 23 categories. Richmond wins 8 and Roanoke wins 15. 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 Richmond to Roanoke or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($624,800 vs $162,000 median home), income ($86,618 vs $51,523), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Richmond, CA and Roanoke, VA are about 2,301 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.