Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Richmond, VA
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 Tempe leads 12 of 23 categories
Richmond
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,606
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
227,171 ✓ Larger
Tempe
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9
Median Household Income
$72,022 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
181,005
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Richmond, VA
Pros
28% less violent crime than Tempe
Homes cost $74k less ($308,300 vs $382,100)
Rent averages $245/mo less ($1,227 vs $1,472)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 106°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Tempe by $12,416/yr
Property crime (3179.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Tempe, AZ
Pros
Households earn $12,416 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 48°F
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $382,100
Higher rents — median is $1,472/mo
Property crime (2893.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Richmond
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 99.9 (100 = US avg)
Richmond
Violent Crime
28% lower
336.9 vs 470.3 per 100k
Richmond
Median Home Value
$74k less
$308,300 vs $382,100
Tempe
Median Income
$12,416
$72,022 vs $59,606/yr
Tempe
Summer Heat
16.4°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 89.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Richmond, VA | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 99.9 |
| Median Home Value | $308,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $382,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 ✓ Lower | $1,472⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,606 | $72,022 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.3% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 151⚠ High | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.1% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richmond City Public Schools | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.8°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.5°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.1" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 227,171 ✓ Larger | 181,005 |
| Median Age | 34.5 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.2% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| Under 18 | 17.1% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Richmond's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Richmond is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tempe leads 12 of 23 categories. Richmond wins 11 and Tempe wins 12. 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 Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($308,300 vs $382,100 median home), income ($59,606 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Richmond, VA and Tempe, AZ are about 1,949 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.