Richardson, TX Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Richardson, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Richardson →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
Richardson, Texas is home to roughly 118,063 residents. The typical household here earns $94,362 a year — above the median we track across cities (+31%).
Anyone weighing a move to Richardson should know the median home value is $379,800, above the multi-city median (+16%), and median rent runs $1,725 per month. Current mortgage rates and local property taxes both affect the real math of buying versus renting.
Buying a typical home in Richardson would run about 4.0 years of median household income — a moderate multiple, not unusually high or low. Buyers may find a bit more room to negotiate in Richardson, where prices have dipped about 0.12% year over year. FEMA rates Richardson's overall natural-hazard risk as Very High — worth factoring into home insurance costs.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $1,725/mo in Richardson would take 21.9% of your income.
$634/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($379,800) would take 25.8% of your income toward principal & interest.
$174/mo under the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Richardson
Median home value is $379,800 and median gross rent is $1,725/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Dallas fell 0.12% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $1,931/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Richardson's overall natural-hazard risk as Very High. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Richardson reported a violent crime rate of 138.2 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Richardson
Planning a move to Richardson? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Richardson, TX?
- The US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022) puts Richardson's median home value at $379,800, median rent at $1,725/month, and median household income at $94,362.
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Richardson?
- A common guideline is that rent should stay under 30% of gross income. With median rent at $1,725/month in Richardson, that implies an income of about $69,000 to keep housing affordable. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Richardson.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Richardson?
- Comparing the two in Richardson: renting at the median $1,725/month needs about $69,000 in annual income (30% guideline), while buying the $379,800 median home needs roughly $86,896 a year in principal-and-interest, assuming 20% down and a 30-year fixed loan at current rates.
- Is Richardson safe?
- The most recent FBI figures (2025) show a violent crime rate of 138.2 per 100,000 residents in Richardson.
See the full salary breakdown for Richardson →
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Richardson's.