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Compare towns

Downey vs Richmond

364 miles apart. The biggest differences: trails (5.3× in Richmond) and street grid (2.9× in Downey).

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Downey, CAHometown of 64 notable peopleCalifornia · 110,939 people
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Richmond, CAHometown of 63 notable peopleCalifornia · 115,505 people
Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

The biggest differences

Where they part ways

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $1,470 more a month in Downey

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Downey$5,100/mo
Typical home $879K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.67% · or rent about $1,937/mo · Housing →
Richmond$3,630/mo
Typical home $602K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.94% · or rent about $1,960/mo · Housing →

The difference: $1,470 a month, about $17,600 a year, between Downey and Richmond.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Report cards

Downey places higher on 13 of 23 CA lists

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every California ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons
DowneyRichmond
Snow a year0″0″
January low—44°F
July high—71°F
Growing season (days)—365d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)83rd91st
Outdoors & history
DowneyRichmond
Conserved land4.4%19.8%
Settled18731905
National Register places212
Archive photos2412
Famous people born here6463
Community
DowneyRichmond
Library hours a week54 hrs40 hrs
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined00

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

364 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Downey ↔ Richmond364 miles apart
Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

DowneyRichmond
People
Population 110,939Lowest 115,505Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +2.3%Lowest CA: +6.1% +12.3%Highest CA: +6.1%
Median age 37.7±1.2Lowest about the CA average 37.9±0.9Highest about the CA average
Richmond and Downey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 21.3%±1.2Highest CA: 22% 20.8%±1.3Lowest CA: 22%
Downey and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 14.2%±0.9Lowest CA: 15.7% 14.5%±0.9Highest CA: 15.7%
Richmond and Downey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 26.1%Lowest CA: 37.1% 33%Highest CA: 37.1%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 8.3%±0.7Highest CA: 7.6% 7.2%±0.8Lowest CA: 7.6%
Downey and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $90,699±$4kLowest 8% below CA $95,391±$4kHighest 4% below CA
Richmond and Downey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $796,600±$15kHighest 8% above CA $668,200±$12kLowest 9% below CA
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,937±$41Lowest 5% below CA $1,960±$90Highest 4% below CA
Richmond and Downey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $5,323Lowest 4% above CA $6,291Highest 23% above CA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 57.9%±4.2Highest CA: 55.3% 56.1%±4.1Lowest CA: 55.3%
Downey and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 9%Lowest CA: 12% 13.5%Highest CA: 12%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 51.1%Lowest CA: 55.9% 54.7%Highest CA: 55.9%
Typical home builtmedian year 1959Lowest 17 yrs older than CA 1966Highest 10 yrs older than CA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 31 minLowest 8% above CA 34 minHighest 19% above CA
Work from home 9.2%±1.1Lowest CA: 17.2% 14%±1.3Highest CA: 17.2%
Work in townworking residents 8.7%Lowest 10.5%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 10.8 miLowest 12.3 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.88Highest 0.73Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Los Angeles (22%)San Francisco (18%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in RichmondFew work in Downey
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 4.4%Lowest 19.8%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 12.6 miLowest 66.8 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 1.0 miLowest 1.3 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 13Lowest 51Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 129Highest 44.9Lowest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading —#325 of 574 in CA
School district Los Angeles County ROP · Downey UnifiedMaking Waves Academy District · Aspire Richmond Technology Academy District
High school in town Downey HighRichmond High
Students per teacherat that high school 23.9Highest 22.4Lowest
California average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024
Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Downey neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Downey’s Town Square.

Richmond neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Richmond’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Downey and Richmond

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Bordering Downey

Towns like Downey

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

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