Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Columbia, MD
🏆 Columbia leads 12 of 20 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,179
Violent Crime Index
58
Population
157,594 ✓ Larger
Columbia
Maryland
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$124,537 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
106,600
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (3.2%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $655,700
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Columbia by $11,358/yr
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Columbia
Columbia, MD
Pros
Homes cost $197k less ($458,700 vs $655,700)
Households earn $11,358 more per year on average
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Alexandria
Smaller class sizes — 13.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Rent averages $88/mo less ($1,895 vs $1,983)
Cons
Higher unemployment (4.0% vs 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
3.2% vs 4.0% unemployment
Columbia
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 102.7 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Median Income
$11,358
$124,537 vs $113,179/yr
Columbia
Median Home Value
$197k less
$458,700 vs $655,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Columbia, MD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $458,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $1,895⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 | $124,537 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 4.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 29.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 18.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) | A (123) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 63.6% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% | 95.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | Howard County Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer | 42.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 88.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" ✓ Drier | 49.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" ✓ Less | 28.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 ✓ Larger | 106,600 |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 38.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 64.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 21.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 16.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Columbia's 102.7 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Columbia leads 12 of 20 categories. Alexandria wins 8 and Columbia wins 12. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Alexandria to Columbia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $458,700 median home), income ($113,179 vs $124,537), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Columbia, MD are about 29 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.