Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Columbus, OH
🏆 Alexandria leads 16 of 23 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
157,594
Columbus
Ohio
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,994
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High
Population
902,449 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
Households earn $50,185 more per year on average
50% less violent crime than Columbus
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (3.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 37°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $655,700
Higher rents — median is $1,983/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Columbus
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Columbus, OH
Pros
Homes cost $443k less ($212,500 vs $655,700)
Rent averages $822/mo less ($1,161 vs $1,983)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Alexandria
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.5)
Cons
Median income trails Alexandria by $50,185/yr
Property crime (2653.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Median Income
$50,185
$113,179 vs $62,994/yr
Alexandria
Violent Crime
50% lower
219.1 vs 434.9 per 100k
Alexandria
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.2% unemployment
Alexandria
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 85.0°F
Columbus
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 94.5 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Columbus
Median Home Value
$443k less
$212,500 vs $655,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Columbus, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 94.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $212,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $1,161 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $62,994 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 13.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 126⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 38.3% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 90.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | Columbus City Schools District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer | 36.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 85.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" ✓ Drier | 42.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 | 902,449 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 32.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 44.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 21.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Columbus's 94.5 (US average = 100).
Columbus is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Alexandria leads 16 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 16 and Columbus wins 7. 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 Columbus or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $212,500 median home), income ($113,179 vs $62,994), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Columbus, OH are about 325 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.