Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, VA
VS
Columbus, OH
🏆 Arlington leads 15 of 23 categories
Arlington
Virginia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$137,387 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
235,845
Columbus
Ohio
8
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.
Arlington, VA
Pros
Households earn $74,393 more per year on average
42% less violent crime than Columbus
More college-educated — 76.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (2.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 37°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $833,300
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Columbus
Longer commutes — 27.7 min average each way
Columbus, OH
Pros
Homes cost $621k less ($212,500 vs $833,300)
Rent averages $1066/mo less ($1,161 vs $2,227)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.5)
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $74,393/yr
Property crime (2653.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 2.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Income
$74,393
$137,387 vs $62,994/yr
Arlington
Violent Crime
42% lower
254.4 vs 434.9 per 100k
Arlington
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
2.8% vs 5.2% unemployment
Arlington
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
$621k less
$212,500 vs $833,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, VA | Columbus, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 94.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $833,300⚠ High | $212,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,227⚠ High | $1,161 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $137,387 ✓ Higher | $62,994 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 13.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.8% ✓ Higher | 38.3% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 90.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Arlington County 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 | 47.2" | 42.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 235,845 | 902,449 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.3 ✓ Older | 32.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.2% | 44.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 21.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington'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, Arlington leads 15 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 15 and Columbus 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 Arlington to Columbus or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($833,300 vs $212,500 median home), income ($137,387 vs $62,994), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, VA and Columbus, OH are about 323 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.