# Living in Richardson, TX: Realust Score 76

> Source: Realust (realust.com), data as of October 2026. Cite: https://realust.com/city/richardson/

URL: https://realust.com/city/richardson/
County: Collin
Realust Score: 76/100 (B, Good), tied for #46 of 84. Base 76 + price-tier bonus 0.
Category scores: Prosperity 74, Schools 80, Safety 73, Lifestyle 86, Market 81, Affordability 75, Commute 73, Growth 66
Median home price: $439K
Population: 118,731
Market momentum: Growing (home prices +0.3% over 1 year, +19.6% over 5 years)

Richardson offers mature suburban convenience with corporate employment density and central location immediately north of Dallas along US 75 and DART rail, attracting diverse professionals, telecom workers, and practical buyers seeking walkable urbanism, shorter commutes, and affordable alternatives to pricier northern suburbs despite older housing stock and mixed neighborhood quality. This established city of approximately 120,000 residents features the massive Telecom Corridor employment hub with Ericsson and AT&T presence, walkable downtown Galatyn Park with high-rises and DART station, older single-family neighborhoods from 1960s-1980s, and eclectic character where internationally diverse dining along Belt Line meets established residential streets creating cosmopolitan suburban blend rarely found in newer developments. The housing market delivers exceptional value with significantly lower prices than neighboring Plano, older homes with renovation potential, townhomes and condos near transit, attracting first-time buyers priced out of northern suburbs, corporate professionals working in Telecom Corridor with five-minute commutes, and urban-minded buyers wanting walkability and transit access over sprawling master-planned sameness. Richardson ISD and Plano ISD both serve sections with solid academics though not matching Plano's elite reputation, while the city provides excellent parks, extensive trails, diverse international dining rivaling much larger cities, and DART rail enabling car-free commutes to downtown Dallas and DFW Airport, perfect for those prioritizing location and practicality over prestige where older infrastructure unlocks central positioning and lifestyle flexibility.

Strengths:
- Strong job market nearby – Tons of tech and corporate employers within the city
- Central to Dallas, Plano, and North Dallas business areas
- One of the best suburbs for DART rail access
- Diverse, welcoming community – Cultural variety reflected in schools and restaurants
- Extensive trail system and well-maintained parks

Trade-offs:
- Many homes built in the 70s–90s may need updates
- Property taxes on par with other inner-ring Dallas suburbs
- Traffic on major roads – US-75 and Belt Line can get congested
- Fewer master-planned communities and brand-new developments
- School quality varies by zone

Data:
- Demographics / Population: Total Population 118,731; People per sq mile 4,157; 5-Year Growth +2.0%
- Demographics / Mobility & Migration: Moved Last Year 21.0%; Same Home 1+ Year 79.0%; From Out of State 2.4%; From Different County 7.2%
- Demographics / Age Distribution: Under 18 20.2%; 25-34 18.0%; 35-44 12.9%; 65+ 13.0%; Median Age 33.9 years
- Demographics / Households: Avg Household Size 2.5; Family Households 61.0%; Homeownership Rate 50.7%; With Kids 27.9%; Married 46.2%; Single Parent 5.7%; Living Alone 29.2%; Seniors Alone 8.7%
- Demographics / Education Level: High School+ 93.3%; Bachelor's+ 57.0%; Graduate Degree 23.6%
- Demographics / Connectivity & Remote Work: Broadband Access 94.9%; Have Computer 98.8%; Work From Home 23.2%
- Real Estate / Home Prices: Per Sq Ft $224; Starter Home $370,000; Median Price $438,611; Premium Home $750,000
- Real Estate / Home Price Trends: 1-Year Change +0.3%; 5-Year Change +19.6%
- Real Estate / Rent Trends: 1-Year Change +0.8%; 5-Year Change +25.6%
- Real Estate / Market Health: Active Listings 238; Median Days on Market 58; Under Contract 28.7%; Price Reduced 22.5%; Sale-to-List Ratio 96.1%
- Real Estate / Market Insights: Cheaper to Rent $677/mo; Seller's market 2.5 mo; Rental Yield 4.8%; Income to Buy 4.5x; vs Region Avg +-0%
- Real Estate / Fit Scores: Remote Work Fit 87; Family Fit 47; Investment 91
- Real Estate / Typical Home: Sq Ft 2,200; Beds 3.6; Baths 2.8; Lot Sq Ft 39,518; Year Built 1979; Garage 2-car
- Real Estate / Property Mix: Single Family 83.5%; Townhome 0%; Condo 9.5%
- Real Estate / Common Features: Pool 25.5%; Garage 86%; Single Story 53%; Fireplace 72.5%; Central Air 78%; Waterfront 1%
- Real Estate / Costs & Ownership: Est. Monthly Payment $2,429; Median Rent $1,752; Avg HOA Fee $246/mo; Have HOA 28.5%
- Real Estate / Investment Indicators: Rental Vacancy 0.5%; New Construction 6%; Per Bedroom $128,933
- Lifestyle / Lifestyle Scores: Area Feel Urban Suburban Mix; Family Friendly 8; Outdoor Activities 6; Nightlife 8; Health & Fitness 8; Diversity 8.7; Weather 6.7
- Lifestyle / Nearby Amenities (within 5 miles): Restaurants 60+; Parks 60+; Gyms 60+; Coffee 60+; Bars 60+; Theaters 8; Daycares 60+; Hospitals 60+; Pharmacies 60+; Dentists 60+; Libraries 16; Dog Parks 60+; Museums 10
- Lifestyle / Getting Around: Walk Score 45; Bike Score 52; Transit Score 32
- Lifestyle / Seasonal Temperatures (high / low): January 56° / 39°; April 74° / 55°; July 94° / 77°; October 77° / 58°
- Lifestyle / Annual Conditions: Sunny Days/Year 218; Rainy Days/Year 147; Annual Rainfall 53.3"
- Crime & Safety / Safety Overview: Safety Grade B; Violent crime (per 1,000) 1.37; Property crime (per 1,000) 14.87
- Crime & Safety / Violent Crime (per 100,000): Assault 98.34; Robbery 38.15; Murder 1.68; Rape 8.48
- Crime & Safety / Property Crime (per 100,000): Burglary 220.41; Theft 1295.33; Vehicle Theft 317.9
- Job Market / Income: Median Household $98,111; Average Household $131,546; Per Capita $51,863
- Job Market / Employment: Unemployment Rate 5.0%; Job Growth (1 yr) +1.4%; Poverty Rate 9.7%
- Job Market / Income Distribution: $150k+ 29.6%; $100k-$150k 19.6%; $75k-$100k 13.2%; $50k-$75k 14.5%; $25k-$50k 12.3%; Under $25k 10.7%
- Job Market / Industries & Employers: Major Industries Technology, Telecommunications, Healthcare, Education; Top Employers UT Dallas, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cisco, Samsung, Texas Instruments
- Education / School District: Primary district Richardson ISD; District Grade B+; State Ranking Top 40%
- Education / Schools: Elementary 36; Middle 8; High School 4
- Education / Elementary Schools: Prairie Creek Elementary A (94); Mohawk Elementary A (93)
- Education / Middle Schools: Richardson North Junior High B (84); Parkhill Junior High B (81)
- Education / High Schools: Lake Highlands Elementary A (92); Richardson High School A (91)
- Education / Academic Info: Student-Teacher Ratio 13.9:1
- Education / Graduation Rates (Class of 2024): Graduation Rate 91.5%; Dropout Rate 8.0%
- Education / College Readiness (Class of 2023): Took SAT/ACT 88%; College Ready 24.8%; TSI Ready 39.3%
- Transportation / Mobility Scores: Walk Score 45; Bike Score 52; Transit Score 32
- Transportation / Commute: Avg Minutes 24; Drive Alone 63.4%; Carpool 6.6%; Work from Home 23.2%
- Transportation / Distance To: Downtown Dallas 13.6 mi; DFW Airport 21.6 mi; Love Field 14.5 mi
- Transportation / EV Charging: Public Stations 56; DC Fast Ports 53; Level 2 Ports 156
- Transportation / Major Highway Access: Highways US-75, I-635, President George Bush Turnpike
- Cost of Living / Cost Index (100 = National Average): Overall 98; Housing 105; Utilities 99; Groceries 100; Transportation 102; Healthcare 100
- Cost of Living / Monthly Utilities: Electric $138; Water $50; Gas $45; Internet $70
- Cost of Living / Everyday Costs: Monthly Groceries (Family of 4) $815; Gas Price (per gallon) $2.82
- Cost of Living / Taxes: Sales Tax Rate 8.3%; Property Tax Rate 2.2%

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