Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
Columbus, GA
🏆 Austin leads 13 of 22 categories
Austin
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$86,556 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
958,202 ✓ Larger
Columbus
Georgia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,561
Violent Crime Index
159⚠ High
Population
204,572
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Austin, TX
Pros
Households earn $31,995 more per year on average
23% less violent crime than Columbus
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 56.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 58°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $461,500
Higher rents — median is $1,549/mo
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Columbus, GA
Pros
Homes cost $293k less ($168,400 vs $461,500)
Rent averages $511/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,549)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Austin
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.8)
Cons
Median income trails Austin by $31,995/yr
Violent crime (603.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.3% vs 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Austin
Median Income
$31,995
$86,556 vs $54,561/yr
Austin
Violent Crime
23% lower
466.9 vs 603.8 per 100k
Austin
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
4.4% vs 7.3% unemployment
Austin
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 91.8°F
Columbus
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 88.8 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Columbus
Median Home Value
$293k less
$168,400 vs $461,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | Columbus, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 | 88.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High | $168,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 ✓ Higher | $54,561 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min | 20.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% ✓ Higher | 7.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 159⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 | 14.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 28.4% |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% ✓ Higher | 88.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | Muscogee County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 57.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 91.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 0.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 ✓ Larger | 204,572 |
| Median Age | 34.2 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 49.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 14.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Columbus's 88.8 (US average = 100).
Columbus is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Austin leads 13 of 22 categories. Austin wins 13 and Columbus 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 Austin to Columbus or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $168,400 median home), income ($86,556 vs $54,561), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and Columbus, GA are about 774 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.