Waco → Richmond
Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources
Should you move?
Moving from Waco to Richmond is neutral, depends on priorities: BEA regional price parity goes from 92.5 to 97.9 (US = 100), and HUD 2-bedroom rent rises by $682/mo.
- +$10,574
- BLS median salary higher in Richmond
- 395 to 223
- violent crimes per 100K (FBI UCR, state-level)
- 14.7:1 to 13.9:1
- NCES student-teacher ratio
- $2,841
- DOL infant care higher / yr in Richmond
BEA Regional Price Parity, HUD Fair Market Rent, BLS OEWS, FBI UCR, NCES, and DOL. The table below lets you override the composite with your own priorities.
Pros of Moving
- + $11K higher median salary
- + Lower violent crime rate
- + Fewer environmental violations
Cons of Moving
- - 5% higher cost of living
- - $682/mo more expensive rent (2BR)
- - More expensive childcare
Purchasing power tightens: BEA RPP rises from 92.5 to 97.9, so the same paycheck buys less in Richmond (ratio 1.06). HUD 2BR Fair Market Rent rises $682/mo ($8,184/yr) from $973 in Waco to $1,655 in Richmond.
The seven-dimension ledger splits (4 destination wins · 3 origin wins); priorities decide this move. Richmond sits #179 of 387 metros on PlainRelocate livability (middle third). Waco is #233/387 on the same ranking. Composite verdict: Neutral, depends on priorities. Override it with the dimension table below.
BLS OEWS median salary moves $10,574 higher ($60,744 → $71,318). Labor-market size: 117,690 tracked jobs at origin vs 637,140 at destination.
State retirement friendliness is near-even: Texas 65 (C, #19/51) vs Virginia 64 (C, #20/51). Full state tax and healthcare sub-scores sit in the retirement desk below.
State retirement friendliness
Primary-state scores from PlainRelocate's retirement registry (tax + healthcare + climate composite). Metro pairs use each metro's primary state abbreviation.
- Income tax
- 100
- Property tax
- 55
- Estate tax
- 100
- Healthcare
- 44
- Income tax
- 78
- Property tax
- 71
- Estate tax
- 100
- Healthcare
- 62
Full retirement ranking · Source composite documented on methodology (Tax Foundation + AARP tax guides + federal healthcare/climate inputs).
Salary Adjustment Calculator
Enter your current salary in Waco to see what you'd need to earn in Richmond to maintain the same purchasing power.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA; retirement desk: Tax Foundation + AARP tax guides June 2026