Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Richmond, CA
VS
Tucson, AZ
🏆 Tucson leads 15 of 23 categories
Richmond
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
115,619
Tucson
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,049
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
541,033 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Richmond, CA
Pros
Households earn $34,569 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 100°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,800
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 24% higher than Tucson
Tucson, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $407k less ($218,200 vs $624,800)
Rent averages $862/mo less ($991 vs $1,853)
36% less violent crime than Richmond
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
Cons
Median income trails Richmond by $34,569/yr
Violent crime (588.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3313.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Richmond
Median Income
$34,569
$86,618 vs $52,049/yr
Tucson
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 94.3 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Tucson
Violent Crime
36% lower
588.8 vs 923.1 per 100k
Tucson
Median Home Value
$407k less
$218,200 vs $624,800
Tucson
Summer Heat
29.4°F warmer
July avg high 100.2°F vs 70.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Richmond, CA | Tucson, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 94.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $624,800⚠ High | $218,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $991 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,618 ✓ Higher | $52,049 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.6 min⚠ High | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.2% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 198⚠ High | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (86) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.0:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.1% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 79.4% | 86.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | West Contra Costa Unified | Tucson Unified District (4403) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.2°F | 66.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 70.8°F | 100.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" | 12.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,619 | 541,033 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.9% ✓ Higher | 50.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 15.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Richmond's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Tucson's 94.3 (US average = 100).
Tucson is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tucson leads 15 of 23 categories. Richmond wins 8 and Tucson wins 15. 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 Tucson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($624,800 vs $218,200 median home), income ($86,618 vs $52,049), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Richmond, CA and Tucson, AZ are about 763 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.