Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Richmond, VA
VS
Washington, DC
🏆 Richmond leads 12 of 23 categories
Richmond
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,606
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
227,171
Washington
District of Columbia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$101,722 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
244⚠ High
Population
670,587 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Richmond, VA
Pros
Homes cost $397k less ($308,300 vs $705,000)
64% less violent crime than Washington
Rent averages $590/mo less ($1,227 vs $1,817)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (6.1%)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Washington
Cons
Median income trails Washington by $42,116/yr
Property crime (3179.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Washington, DC
Pros
Households earn $42,116 more per year on average
More college-educated — 62.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $705,000
Higher rents — median is $1,817/mo
Violent crime (925.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3588.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Richmond
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Richmond
Violent Crime
64% lower
336.9 vs 925.9 per 100k
Richmond
Median Home Value
$397k less
$308,300 vs $705,000
Richmond
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
6.1% vs 7.1% unemployment
Washington
Median Income
$42,116
$101,722 vs $59,606/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Richmond, VA | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 108.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $308,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $705,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 ✓ Lower | $1,817⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,606 | $101,722 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.3% | 25.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 244⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.1% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 92.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richmond City Public Schools | District of Columbia Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.8°F ✓ Warmer | 44.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.5°F | 89.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.1" | 45.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.8" ✓ Less | 9.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 227,171 | 670,587 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 34.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.2% ✓ Higher | 41.4% |
| Under 18 | 17.1% | 18.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Richmond's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Washington's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Richmond is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richmond leads 12 of 23 categories. Richmond wins 12 and Washington 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 Washington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($308,300 vs $705,000 median home), income ($59,606 vs $101,722), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Richmond, VA and Washington, DC are about 98 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.