Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Richmond, CA
VS
San Tan Valley, AZ
🏆 San Tan Valley leads 16 of 22 categories
Richmond
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
115,619 ✓ Larger
San Tan Valley
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$88,466 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62 ✓ Safer
Population
101,207
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Richmond, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 104°F
More college-educated — 32.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,800
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than San Tan Valley
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
San Tan Valley, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $321k less ($304,000 vs $624,800)
74% less violent crime than Richmond
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (4.5%)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.7 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $124/mo less ($1,729 vs $1,853)
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
San Tan Valley
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 100.0 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
San Tan Valley
Median Income
$1,848
$88,466 vs $86,618/yr
San Tan Valley
Violent Crime
74% lower
235.7 vs 923.1 per 100k
San Tan Valley
Median Home Value
$321k less
$304,000 vs $624,800
San Tan Valley
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
4.5% vs 6.9% unemployment
San Tan Valley
Summer Heat
33.4°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 70.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Richmond, CA | San Tan Valley, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 100.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $624,800⚠ High | $304,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $1,729⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,618 | $88,466 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.2% | 13.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 198⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (86) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.0:1 | 19.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.1% ✓ Higher | 22.0% |
| High School or Higher | 79.4% | 92.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | West Contra Costa Unified | J O Combs Unified School District (4445) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.2°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 70.8°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,619 ✓ Larger | 101,207 |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.9% | 80.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Richmond's cost of living index is 118.2 vs San Tan Valley's 100.0 (US average = 100).
San Tan Valley is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Tan Valley leads 16 of 22 categories. Richmond wins 6 and San Tan Valley wins 16. 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 San Tan Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($624,800 vs $304,000 median home), income ($86,618 vs $88,466), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Richmond, CA and San Tan Valley, AZ are about 690 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.