Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, VA
VS
Columbia, SC
🏆 Arlington leads 14 of 23 categories
Arlington
Virginia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$137,387 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
235,845 ✓ Larger
Columbia
South Carolina
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,095
Violent Crime Index
203⚠ High
Population
136,754
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, VA
Pros
Households earn $83,292 more per year on average
67% less violent crime than Columbia
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.1 pts lower (2.8%)
More college-educated — 76.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.4 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $833,300
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Columbia
Longer commutes — 27.7 min average each way
Columbia, SC
Pros
Homes cost $607k less ($226,200 vs $833,300)
Rent averages $1122/mo less ($1,105 vs $2,227)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.9)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $83,292/yr
Violent crime (769.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3232.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.9% vs 2.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Income
$83,292
$137,387 vs $54,095/yr
Arlington
Violent Crime
67% lower
254.4 vs 769.9 per 100k
Arlington
Unemployment
5.1 pp lower
2.8% vs 7.9% unemployment
Columbia
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 92.9 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Median Home Value
$607k less
$226,200 vs $833,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, VA | Columbia, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 92.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $833,300⚠ High | $226,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,227⚠ High | $1,105 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $137,387 ✓ Higher | $54,095 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High | 17.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 203⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 154⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | A- (115) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.8% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 91.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Arlington County Public Schools | Richland 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 56.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.2" ✓ Drier | 48.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 235,845 ✓ Larger | 136,754 |
| Median Age | 35.3 ✓ Older | 28.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.2% | 47.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% ✓ More | 17.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Columbia's 92.9 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 14 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 14 and Columbia wins 9. 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 Arlington to Columbia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($833,300 vs $226,200 median home), income ($137,387 vs $54,095), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, VA and Columbia, SC are about 395 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.