Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Richmond, VA
VS
Roswell, GA
🏆 Roswell leads 15 of 23 categories
Richmond
Virginia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,606
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
227,171 ✓ Larger
Roswell
Georgia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$122,924 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
92,770
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Richmond, VA
Pros
Homes cost $171k less ($308,300 vs $479,400)
Rent averages $392/mo less ($1,227 vs $1,619)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Roswell
Cons
Median income trails Roswell by $63,318/yr
Property crime (3179.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.3%)
Roswell, GA
Pros
Households earn $63,318 more per year on average
52% less violent crime than Richmond
Violent crime is well below the national average (160.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 63.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $479,400
Higher rents — median is $1,619/mo
Longer commutes — 29.1 min average each way
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Richmond
Key Differences at a Glance
Richmond
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Richmond
Median Home Value
$171k less
$308,300 vs $479,400
Roswell
Median Income
$63,318
$122,924 vs $59,606/yr
Roswell
Violent Crime
52% lower
160.1 vs 336.9 per 100k
Roswell
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.3% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Richmond, VA | Roswell, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $308,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $479,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 ✓ Lower | $1,619⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,606 | $122,924 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter | 29.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.3% | 25.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 114⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 151⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.1% | 63.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richmond City Public Schools | Fulton County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.8°F | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.5°F ✓ Warmer | 89.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.1" ✓ Drier | 53.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.8" | 1.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 227,171 ✓ Larger | 92,770 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 40.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.2% | 70.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.1% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Richmond's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Roswell's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Richmond is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roswell leads 15 of 23 categories. Richmond wins 8 and Roswell 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 Roswell or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($308,300 vs $479,400 median home), income ($59,606 vs $122,924), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Richmond, VA and Roswell, GA are about 454 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.