Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Richmond, VA
VS
San Antonio, TX
🏆 Richmond leads 12 of 23 categories
Richmond
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$59,606 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
227,171
San Antonio
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,593
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High
Population
1,445,662 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Richmond, VA
Pros
43% less violent crime than San Antonio
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $308,300
Property crime (3179.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 4% higher than San Antonio
San Antonio, TX
Pros
Homes cost $110k less ($198,000 vs $308,300)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 48°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.7)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Cons
Violent crime (594.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4623.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Richmond
Violent Crime
43% lower
336.9 vs 594.1 per 100k
San Antonio
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 93.7 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
San Antonio
Median Home Value
$110k less
$198,000 vs $308,300
San Antonio
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 89.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Richmond, VA | San Antonio, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 93.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $308,300⚠ High | $198,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 | $1,189 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,606 ✓ Higher | $59,593 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter | 24.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.3% ✓ Higher | 9.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 182⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.1% ✓ Higher | 27.7% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 83.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richmond City Public Schools | NORTHSIDE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.8°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.5°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.1" | 34.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.8" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 227,171 | 1,445,662 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.5 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.2% | 51.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.1% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Richmond's cost of living index is 98.0 vs San Antonio's 93.7 (US average = 100).
San Antonio is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richmond leads 12 of 23 categories. Richmond wins 12 and San Antonio wins 11. 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 San Antonio or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($308,300 vs $198,000 median home), income ($59,606 vs $59,593), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Richmond, VA and San Antonio, TX are about 1,331 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.