Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allen, TX
VS
Columbia, MD
🏆 Allen leads 12 of 20 categories
Allen
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,259
Violent Crime Index
28
Population
105,444
Columbia
Maryland
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$124,537 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
106,600 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allen, TX
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (106.4 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $69k less ($390,200 vs $458,700)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 43°F
Rent averages $148/mo less ($1,747 vs $1,895)
Cons
Median income trails Columbia by $3,278/yr
Columbia, MD
Pros
More college-educated — 63.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Households earn $3,278 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $458,700
Higher rents — median is $1,895/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Allen
Median Home Value
$69k less
$390,200 vs $458,700
Allen
Summer Heat
6.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 88.6°F
Columbia
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.7 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Median Income
$3,278
$124,537 vs $121,259/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allen, TX | Columbia, MD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $390,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $458,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,747⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,895⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,259 | $124,537 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 21.4% ✓ Higher | 18.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 28 | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | A (123) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.2% | 63.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.8% ✓ Higher | 95.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALLEN ISD | Howard County Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.5°F ✓ Warmer | 42.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer | 88.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" ✓ Drier | 49.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" ✓ Less | 28.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,444 | 106,600 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.8 | 38.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 64.3% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 21.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 16.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allen's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Columbia's 102.7 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Allen leads 12 of 20 categories. Allen wins 12 and Columbia wins 8. 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 Allen to Columbia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($390,200 vs $458,700 median home), income ($121,259 vs $124,537), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allen, TX and Columbia, MD are about 1,180 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.