Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Richmond, CA
VS
Tampa, FL
🏆 Tampa leads 16 of 22 categories
Richmond
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
115,619
Tampa
Florida
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,802
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
388,768 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Richmond, CA
Pros
Households earn $19,816 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 91°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)
Tampa, FL
Pros
Homes cost $292k less ($333,200 vs $624,800)
52% less violent crime than Richmond
Rent averages $431/mo less ($1,422 vs $1,853)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.2%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Cons
Violent crime (444.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Richmond by $19,816/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Richmond
Median Income
$19,816
$86,618 vs $66,802/yr
Tampa
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Tampa
Violent Crime
52% lower
444.6 vs 923.1 per 100k
Tampa
Median Home Value
$292k less
$333,200 vs $624,800
Tampa
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.9% unemployment
Tampa
Summer Heat
20.2°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 70.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Richmond, CA | Tampa, 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 | $333,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $1,422⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,618 ✓ Higher | $66,802 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.6 min⚠ High | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.2% | 16.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 198⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (86) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.0:1 | 19.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.1% | 43.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.4% | 89.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | West Contra Costa Unified | HILLSBOROUGH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.2°F | 71.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 70.8°F | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" ✓ Drier | 49.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,619 | 388,768 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 35.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.9% ✓ Higher | 50.5% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Richmond's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Tampa's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Tampa is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Tampa leads 16 of 22 categories. Richmond wins 6 and Tampa 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 Tampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($624,800 vs $333,200 median home), income ($86,618 vs $66,802), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Richmond, CA and Tampa, FL are about 2,393 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.