Moving from Richmond, CA to Toledo, OH

Cross-country relocations like Richmond, CA β†’ Toledo, OH cover 2341 mi and about 40h 40m of driving through 9 states. Expect a multi-day trip and a meaningful change in climate, cost-of-living, and job market. The sections below compare each data layer directly from BEA, Census, Zillow, BLS, and NOAA.

2341 mi Β· 40h 40m by car Β· OH β†’ IN β†’ IL β†’ IA β†’ NE β†’ WY β†’ UT β†’ NV β†’ CA

COL -20.9% Home values -78.6% Ξ” -7.4Β°F annual

Distance & route

Driving
2341 mi
Drive time
40h 40m
States
9
Fuel (25 mpg)
94 gal
Route throughOH β†’ IN β†’ IL β†’ IA β†’ NE β†’ WY β†’ UT β†’ NV β†’ CA
Primary highwaysI 80, I 80 EXPRESS, I 90
Major cities en routeSouth Bend, Chicago, Naperville, Aurora, Joliet

Route via OSRM driving profile. Actual time varies with traffic and season.

Cost of living

RichmondToledoU.S. avg
All items (RPP)115.61391.455100.0
Rents172.58596.285100.0
Goods108.46593.628100.0
Services194.71867.317100.0

Cost of living in Toledo is 20.9% lower than Richmond β€” the kind of spread that reshuffles a household budget line by line.

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (MSA-level Β· MSA-level); 2024.

Housing prices

Richmond β€” typical home
$606,427
Toledo β€” typical home
$129,627
Richmond β€” typical rent
$2,568/mo
Toledo β€” typical rent
$1,092/mo

Homes run dramatically cheaper in Toledo: 20.9% below Richmond on Zillow ZHVI (2026-03).

YoY change: Richmond -5.4%, Toledo +5.4%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.

Climate

1991–2020 normalsRichmondToledo
Annual avg temperature59Β°F51Β°F
January avg low44Β°F20Β°F
July avg high71Β°F85Β°F
Annual snowfall0.0"β€”
Annual precipitation24.4"32.4"

Climate cools by 7.4Β°F on the annual average β€” 58.8Β°F β†’ 51.4Β°F.

Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (stations: RICHMOND, CA US, TOLEDO METCALF FLD, OH US).

Demographics

ACS 5-year 2023RichmondToledo
Population115,396268,461
Median household income$90,038$47,532
Median age37.635.7
Bachelor's degree or higher20.2%13.7%
Avg household size2.852.27

Income gap is large: median household income drops 20.9% between Richmond and Toledo (ACS 2023).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2023.

Jobs & wages

Richmond MSA β€” median wage
$72,050
Toledo MSA β€” median wage
$45,740
Richmond MSA β€” employment
2,422,210
Toledo MSA β€” employment
290,070

Top occupations in Toledo MSA

OccupationEmploymentMedian wage
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations 33,160 $39,900
Production Occupations 31,420 $45,220
Office and Administrative Support Occupations 30,850 $41,570
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations 27,870 $28,590
Sales and Related Occupations 22,710 $32,930

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.

Moving between California and Ohio

California income tax
13.3% top marginal
Ohio income tax
3.5% top marginal

State income-tax top marginal rates are from the Tax Foundation, updated annually. Check Ohio's DMV for the current deadline to transfer driver license and vehicle registration after establishing residency. Consult a tax professional for your specific filing situation β€” state tax treatment depends on residency, sourcing, and reciprocity agreements.

Best time to move

Moving companies typically charge 20–30% more between Memorial Day and Labor Day (peak season). October through April offers the lowest rates and better mover availability.

To avoid mid-semester school transfers, most U.S. families schedule moves between mid-June and mid-August. Public school calendars typically run late August or early September through late May or early June.

Winter driving along this route

  • I-80 across southern Wyoming frequently closes in winter storms November through April β€” check WYDOT 511 before departure.
  • I-80 through Parleys Canyon and I-70 through the San Rafael Swell see winter closures; I-15 north of Salt Lake can slow in storms.
  • I-80 east of Reno and US-50 across the Sierra can require chains in winter storms.
  • Donner Pass (I-80) and Tejon Pass (I-5 Grapevine) see chain requirements and occasional closures December through March.

State DOT 511 phone or web services provide real-time road conditions year-round.

Frequently asked

How much do homes cost in Toledo compared to Richmond?

Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $129,627 in Toledo vs $606,427 in Richmond β€” a 78.6% lower figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.

Is Toledo more expensive than Richmond?

Based on BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), overall price level in Toledo is 20.9% lower than Richmond (91.455 vs 115.613, U.S. average = 100). Rent and services typically carry most of this gap.

When is the best time to move from Richmond to Toledo?

Moving companies usually charge 20–30% less between October and April (off-peak). Memorial Day through Labor Day is peak pricing. For a 2341 mi drive, weather on the route matters too β€” see the timing section above for state-specific winter warnings.

How does household income compare in Richmond vs Toledo?

Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $47,532 in Toledo vs $90,038 in Richmond β€” a 47.2% lower figure. Compare this against the cost-of-living gap above when budgeting.

How does the job market in Toledo compare to Richmond?

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show median wages of $45,740 in the Toledo MSA vs $72,050 in the Richmond MSA, on total employment of 290,070 and 2,422,210 respectively. Top occupations on the destination side appear in the Jobs & wages section above.

How far is Toledo, OH from Richmond, CA?

The driving distance is 2341 mi and the route typically takes 40h 40m via I 80 and I 80 EXPRESS. The trip crosses 9 state(s). Actual time varies with traffic and season.

Plan the move

Estimate costs with our moving cost calculator, or see where else to move from Richmond.

City profiles: Richmond, CA Β· Toledo, OH.

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