City comparison
No. Richmond's crime index is 169 versus 233 in Stockton, and its violent crime index is 122 versus 314, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Richmond is cheaper. Median rent is $1,372 a month versus $1,577 in Stockton.
Safety is where Stockton and Richmond split most clearly. Richmond scores 64 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,577 in Stockton and $1,372 in Richmond.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Richmond costs less and Stockton 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.
The crime gap is citywide. Richmond has rougher pockets and Stockton has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Stockton and Richmond are 2,372 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,577 a month in Stockton to $1,372 a month in Richmond, down $205 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $79,907 in Stockton to $64,587 in Richmond, down $15,320 (19%).
The crime index goes from 233 in Stockton to 169 in Richmond, down 64 points (27%).
The move
Richmond and Stockton are 2,372 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,372 a month in Richmond to $1,577 a month in Stockton, up $205 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $64,587 in Richmond to $79,907 in Stockton, up $15,320 (24%).
The crime index goes from 169 in Richmond to 233 in Stockton, up 64 points (38%).
Stockton, CA
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 Stockton and Richmond? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
13% cheaper
Richmond rent is 13% cheaper than Stockton
Stockton
$1,577/mo
Richmond
Winner$1,372/mo
Typical rent runs $1,372 a month in Richmond versus $1,577 in Stockton, 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 $2,460, 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 Stockton.
Planning to buy in Richmond? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
24% higher
Stockton's median income is 24% higher than Richmond
Stockton
Winner$79,907
Richmond
$64,587
Median household income is $79,907 in Stockton versus $64,587 in Richmond, so typical pay runs 24% higher in Stockton (about $15,320 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, Stockton 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
27% lower crime
Richmond's crime index is 27% lower than Stockton
Stockton
233 (100 = avg)
Richmond
Winner169 (100 = avg)
Richmond's crime index is 169 versus 233 in Stockton (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 27% lower in Richmond. 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, Richmond is the easier city. Stockton can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
28% more comfortable
Stockton weather is 28% more comfortable than Richmond
Stockton
Winner71°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Richmond
57°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 78/100
Stockton averages about 71°F (83°F highs); Richmond averages about 57°F (66°F highs). Stockton sits near 71°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. Stockton 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 24% higher ($79,907), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 71°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 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.
Richmond is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 27% lower than Stockton (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
Safety is the widest gap: Richmond scores 44/100 versus 34/100 in Stockton. Rent is $1,372/month in Richmond and $1,577/month in Stockton, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Safety still diverges (44/100 in Richmond vs 34/100 in Stockton), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $79,907 in Stockton versus $64,587 in Richmond.
Between Stockton and Richmond, Richmond is ahead on safety — 44/100 safety versus 34/100. Lean Stockton instead when you already know the Stockton block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
Ready to move to Richmond?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Richmond when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Stockton and Richmond, plus other cities in CA and VA.
