Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Richmond, CA
VS
St. Petersburg, FL
🏆 St. Petersburg leads 19 of 22 categories
Richmond
California
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
115,619
St. Petersburg
Florida
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,333
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
259,343 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Richmond, CA
Pros
Households earn $16,285 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 90°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,800
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
St. Petersburg, FL
Pros
Homes cost $336k less ($289,000 vs $624,800)
33% less violent crime than Richmond
Rent averages $443/mo less ($1,410 vs $1,853)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (4.6%)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Cons
Violent crime (619.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Richmond by $16,285/yr
Property crime (2458.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Richmond
Median Income
$16,285
$86,618 vs $70,333/yr
St. Petersburg
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
St. Petersburg
Violent Crime
33% lower
619.6 vs 923.1 per 100k
St. Petersburg
Median Home Value
$336k less
$289,000 vs $624,800
St. Petersburg
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.9% unemployment
St. Petersburg
Summer Heat
18.8°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 70.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Richmond, CA | St. Petersburg, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $624,800⚠ High | $289,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $1,410⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,618 ✓ Higher | $70,333 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.6 min⚠ High | 24.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.2% | 15.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 198⚠ High | 145⚠ 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 | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (86) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.0:1 | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.1% | 40.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.4% | 93.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | West Contra Costa Unified | PINELLAS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.2°F | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 70.8°F | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" ✓ Drier | 46.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,619 | 259,343 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.1 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.9% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.4% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Richmond's cost of living index is 118.2 vs St. Petersburg's 103.4 (US average = 100).
St. Petersburg is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, St. Petersburg leads 19 of 22 categories. Richmond wins 3 and St. Petersburg wins 19. 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 St. Petersburg or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($624,800 vs $289,000 median home), income ($86,618 vs $70,333), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Richmond, CA and St. Petersburg, FL are about 2,390 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.