Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Richmond, CA
VS
Stamford, CT
🏆 Stamford leads 17 of 23 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
Stamford
Connecticut
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$100,718 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
135,413 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Richmond, CA
Pros
Rent averages $276/mo less ($1,853 vs $2,129)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 38°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 85°F
Cons
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Median income trails Stamford by $14,100/yr
Property crime (2762.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Stamford, CT
Pros
83% less violent crime than Richmond
Violent crime is well below the national average (157.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.5%)
More college-educated — 50.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $14,100 more per year on average
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,129/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Stamford
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 106.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Stamford
Median Income
$14,100
$100,718 vs $86,618/yr
Stamford
Violent Crime
83% lower
157.5 vs 923.1 per 100k
Stamford
Median Home Value
$40k less
$584,700 vs $624,800
Stamford
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.9% unemployment
Stamford
Summer Heat
14.0°F warmer
July avg high 84.8°F vs 70.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Richmond, CA | Stamford, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $624,800⚠ High | $584,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,129⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,618 | $100,718 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.6 min⚠ High | 27.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.2% | 14.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 198⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (86) | A (120) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.0:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.1% | 50.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.4% | 88.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | West Contra Costa Unified | Stamford School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer | 38.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 70.8°F | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" ✓ Drier | 50.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 34.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,619 | 135,413 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.1 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.9% ✓ Higher | 46.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% ✓ More | 19.2% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Richmond's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Stamford's 106.5 (US average = 100).
Stamford is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Stamford leads 17 of 23 categories. Richmond wins 6 and Stamford wins 17. 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 Stamford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($624,800 vs $584,700 median home), income ($86,618 vs $100,718), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Richmond, CA and Stamford, CT are about 2,577 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.