Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Richmond, CA
VS
Salt Lake City, UT
🏆 Salt Lake City leads 14 of 23 categories
Richmond
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
115,619
Salt Lake City
Utah
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,357
Violent Crime Index
227⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
201,269 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Richmond, CA
Pros
Households earn $14,261 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 91°F
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 40°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $624,800
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City, UT
Pros
Rent averages $599/mo less ($1,254 vs $1,853)
Homes cost $166k less ($458,600 vs $624,800)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (3.6%)
6% less violent crime than Richmond
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Cons
Violent crime (864.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Richmond by $14,261/yr
Property crime (5200.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Richmond
Median Income
$14,261
$86,618 vs $72,357/yr
Salt Lake City
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Salt Lake City
Violent Crime
6% lower
864.2 vs 923.1 per 100k
Salt Lake City
Median Home Value
$166k less
$458,600 vs $624,800
Salt Lake City
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
3.6% vs 6.9% unemployment
Salt Lake City
Summer Heat
20.6°F warmer
July avg high 91.4°F vs 70.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Richmond, CA | Salt Lake City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $624,800⚠ High | $458,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $1,254 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,618 ✓ Higher | $72,357 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 3.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.6 min⚠ High | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.2% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 198⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 227⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (86) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.0:1 | 18.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.1% | 50.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.4% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | West Contra Costa Unified | Salt Lake District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer | 39.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 70.8°F | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" | 17.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 49.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,619 | 201,269 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 32.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.9% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Richmond's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Salt Lake City's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Salt Lake City is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Salt Lake City leads 14 of 23 categories. Richmond wins 9 and Salt Lake City wins 14. 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 Salt Lake City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($624,800 vs $458,600 median home), income ($86,618 vs $72,357), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Richmond, CA and Salt Lake City, UT are about 590 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.