Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
VS
Columbia, MO
🏆 It's a dead heat — 10 categories each
Augusta-Richmond County
Georgia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0
Median Household Income
$50,492
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
201,615 ✓ Larger
Columbia
Missouri
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,455 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
91
Population
126,172
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $107k less ($141,900 vs $248,600)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 39°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Median income trails Columbia by $9,963/yr
Higher unemployment (8.3% vs 4.0%)
Columbia, MO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.3 pts lower (4.0%)
More college-educated — 55.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $9,963 more per year on average
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 94°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Augusta-Richmond County
Median Home Value
$107k less
$141,900 vs $248,600
Augusta-Richmond County
Summer Heat
5.5°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 88.6°F
Columbia
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 91.0 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Median Income
$9,963
$60,455 vs $50,492/yr
Columbia
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
4.0% vs 8.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Augusta-Richmond County, GA | Columbia, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 ✓ Lower | $248,600 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,023 | $997 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,492 | $60,455 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.3%⚠ High | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.2 min | 16.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 7.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 99 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 91 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 110⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | A (123) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.8% | 55.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% | 95.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richmond County | COLUMBIA 93 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.6°F ✓ Warmer | 39.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 88.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" ✓ Drier | 44.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 17.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 201,615 ✓ Larger | 126,172 |
| Median Age | 34.6 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.0% ✓ Higher | 48.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 19.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 11.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Augusta-Richmond County's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Columbia's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 10 categories each. Augusta-Richmond County wins 10 and Columbia wins 10. 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 Augusta-Richmond County to Columbia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $248,600 median home), income ($50,492 vs $60,455), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA and Columbia, MO are about 689 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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