City comparison
Yes. Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 169 in Richmond, and its violent crime index is 128 versus 122, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Richmond is cheaper. Median rent is $1,372 a month versus $1,572 in Raleigh.
The income gap between Raleigh and Richmond is significant: $85,395 median household versus $64,587. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,572 in Raleigh and $1,372 in Richmond.
Raleigh is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Richmond makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Raleigh is the stronger move.
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
Raleigh and Richmond are 139 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,572 a month in Raleigh to $1,372 a month in Richmond, down $200 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $85,395 in Raleigh to $64,587 in Richmond, down $20,808 (24%).
The crime index goes from 142 in Raleigh to 169 in Richmond, up 27 points (19%).
The move
Richmond and Raleigh are 139 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,372 a month in Richmond to $1,572 a month in Raleigh, up $200 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $64,587 in Richmond to $85,395 in Raleigh, up $20,808 (32%).
The crime index goes from 169 in Richmond to 142 in Raleigh, down 27 points (16%).
Raleigh, NC
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 Raleigh and Richmond? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
13% cheaper
Richmond rent is 13% cheaper than Raleigh
Raleigh
$1,572/mo
Richmond
Winner$1,372/mo
Typical rent runs $1,372 a month in Richmond versus $1,572 in Raleigh, so Richmond is 13% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $2,400, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Richmond still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Raleigh.
Planning to buy in Raleigh? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
32% higher
Raleigh's median income is 32% higher than Richmond
Raleigh
Winner$85,395
Richmond
$64,587
Median household income is $85,395 in Raleigh versus $64,587 in Richmond, so typical pay runs 32% higher in Raleigh (about $20,808 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Raleigh is the stronger labor market on paper. Richmond can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
16% lower crime
Raleigh's crime index is 16% lower than Richmond
Raleigh
Winner142 (100 = avg)
Richmond
169 (100 = avg)
Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 169 in Richmond (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 16% lower in Raleigh. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Raleigh is the easier city. Richmond can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
10% more comfortable
Raleigh weather is 10% more comfortable than Richmond
Raleigh
Winner60°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 86/100
Richmond
57°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 78/100
Raleigh averages about 60°F (69°F highs); Richmond averages about 57°F (66°F highs). Raleigh averages around 60°F. Richmond averages around 57°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Raleigh scores 10% 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 32% higher ($85,395), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 60°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Raleigh is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 16% lower than Richmond (142 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.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Richmond
Richmond is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 13% 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.
Bottom line
Richmond is cheaper on rent ($1,372/month vs $1,572), but Raleigh's $85,395 median income beats Richmond's $64,587 by 24%. Remote workers paid on Raleigh scales can make that trade; local-market earners often cannot.
Raleigh still pays more locally ($85,395 median income vs $64,587), which can offset the lease if your field pays Raleigh rates.
Typical rent stays $1,372 in Richmond and $1,572 in Raleigh.
Between Raleigh and Richmond, Raleigh is ahead on local pay — $85,395 median income against $64,587. Lean Richmond instead when keeping rent near $1,372/month beats chasing $85,395 median income.
Common questions
Ready to move to Raleigh?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Raleigh when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Raleigh and Richmond, plus other cities in NC and VA.
