City comparison
No. Richmond's crime index is 169 versus 188 in Dallas, and its violent crime index is 122 versus 179, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Richmond is cheaper. Median rent is $1,372 a month versus $1,472 in Dallas.
Dallas and Richmond are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,472 in Dallas and $1,372 in Richmond, and median household income lands at $70,518 versus $64,587. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Richmond costs less and Dallas pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Dallas and Richmond are 1,139 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Dallas to $1,372 a month in Richmond, down $100 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $70,518 in Dallas to $64,587 in Richmond, down $5,931 (8%).
The crime index goes from 188 in Dallas to 169 in Richmond, down 19 points (10%).
The move
Richmond and Dallas are 1,139 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,372 a month in Richmond to $1,472 a month in Dallas, up $100 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $64,587 in Richmond to $70,518 in Dallas, up $5,931 (9%).
The crime index goes from 169 in Richmond to 188 in Dallas, up 19 points (11%).
Dallas, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Richmond, VA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Dallas and Richmond? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
7% cheaper
Richmond rent is 7% cheaper than Dallas
Dallas
$1,472/mo
Richmond
Winner$1,372/mo
Typical rent runs $1,372 a month in Richmond versus $1,472 in Dallas, so Richmond is 7% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $100, or $1,200 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Richmond? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
9% higher
Dallas's median income is 9% higher than Richmond
Dallas
Winner$70,518
Richmond
$64,587
Median household income is $70,518 in Dallas versus $64,587 in Richmond, so typical pay runs 9% higher in Dallas (about $5,931 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
10% lower crime
Richmond's crime index is 10% lower than Dallas
Dallas
188 (100 = avg)
Richmond
Winner169 (100 = avg)
Richmond's crime index is 169 versus 188 in Dallas (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 10% lower in Richmond. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Richmond, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Dallas. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
28% more comfortable
Dallas weather is 28% more comfortable than Richmond
Dallas
Winner67°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Richmond
57°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 78/100
Dallas averages about 67°F (74°F highs); Richmond averages about 57°F (66°F highs). Dallas sits near 67°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Richmond averages around 57°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Dallas scores 28% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Richmond if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 9% higher ($70,518), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 67°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Richmond is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 7% cheaper here at about $1,372 a month. Choose Richmond if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Richmond is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 10% lower than Dallas (169 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Weather separates these metros: $1,472/month rent in Dallas at 67°F versus $1,372 in Richmond at 57°F. Income runs $70,518 vs $64,587, but the daily feel of the move is the temperature gap.
Richmond rent at $1,372/month is still below Dallas's $1,472, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $70,518 in Dallas versus $64,587 in Richmond.
Between Dallas and Richmond, Dallas is ahead on climate — 67°F typical weather versus 57°F. Lean Richmond instead when you would rather tolerate 57°F than optimize for Dallas's comfort score.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Richmond when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Dallas and Richmond, plus other cities in TX and VA.
