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Compare towns

Richmond vs Vista

437 miles apart. The biggest differences: trails (2.7× in Richmond) and street grid (2.1× in Vista).

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Richmond, CAHometown of 63 notable peopleCalifornia · 115,505 people
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Vista, CAAn outdoors townCalifornia · 99,114 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 $1,450 more a month in Vista

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.

Richmond$3,630/mo
Typical home $602K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.94% · or rent about $1,960/mo · Housing →
Vista$5,070/mo
Typical home $877K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.65% · or rent about $2,249/mo · Housing →

The difference: $1,450 a month, about $17,300 a year, between Vista 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

Vista places higher on 14 of 22 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
RichmondVista
Snow a year0″0″
January low44°F45°F
July high71°F87°F
Growing season (days)365d365d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)91st52nd
Outdoors & history
RichmondVista
Conserved land19.8%7.2%
Settled1905—
National Register places122
Archive photos124
Famous people born here6311
Community
RichmondVista
Library hours a week40 hrs51 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

437 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Richmond ↔ Vista437 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.

RichmondVista
People
Population 115,505Highest 99,114Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +12.3%Highest CA: +6.1% +4.8%Lowest CA: +6.1%
Median age 37.9±0.9Highest about the CA average 35.9±0.9Lowest 5% below CA
Kids under 18 20.8%±1.3Lowest CA: 22% 24.3%±1.4Highest CA: 22%
Age 65+ 14.5%±0.9Highest CA: 15.7% 13%±0.8Lowest CA: 15.7%
Richmond and Vista are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 33%Highest CA: 37.1% 29.3%Lowest CA: 37.1%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 7.2%±0.8Highest CA: 7.6% 6.2%±0.7Lowest CA: 7.6%
Richmond and Vista are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $95,391±$4kHighest 4% below CA $94,975±$5kLowest 4% below CA
Richmond and Vista are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $668,200±$12kLowest 9% below CA $762,400±$21kHighest 4% above CA
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,960±$90Lowest 4% below CA $2,249±$43Highest 10% above CA
Property taxmedian, yearly $6,291Highest 23% above CA $4,929Lowest 4% below CA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 56.1%±4.1Lowest CA: 55.3% 59.6%±4.1Highest CA: 55.3%
Vista and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 13.5%Highest CA: 12% 10.5%Lowest CA: 12%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 54.7%Highest CA: 55.9% 51.7%Lowest CA: 55.9%
Typical home builtmedian year 1966Lowest 10 yrs older than CA 1985Highest 9 yrs newer than CA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 34 minHighest 19% above CA 27 minLowest 7% below CA
Work from home 14%±1.3Lowest CA: 17.2% 16.2%±1.5Highest CA: 17.2%
Vista and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 10.5%Lowest 12.9%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 12.3 miHighest 10.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.73Lowest 0.77Highest
Top workplaceoutside town San Francisco (18%)San Diego (16%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in VistaFew work in Richmond
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 19.8%Highest 7.2%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 66.8 miHighest 25.2 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 1.3 mi 1.3 mi
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 51Highest 12Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 44.9Lowest 96.0Highest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #325 of 574 in CA#211 of 574 in CA
School district Making Waves Academy District · Aspire Richmond Technology Academy DistrictClassical Academy Vista District · Bella Mente Montessori Academy District
High school in town Richmond HighRancho Buena Vista High
Students per teacherat that high school 22.4Highest 19.0Lowest
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.

Richmond neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Richmond’s Town Square.

Vista neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Vista’s Town Square.

Add a town

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Bordering Richmond

Towns like Richmond

Not sure which town to add? Find your place ranks California towns on what matters to you.Find your place →

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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