Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Beaverton, OR
VS
Columbia, MD
🏆 Columbia leads 14 of 20 categories
Beaverton
Oregon
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,899
Violent Crime Index
96
Population
97,554
Columbia
Maryland
14
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.
Beaverton, OR
Pros
Rent averages $232/mo less ($1,663 vs $1,895)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 89°F
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 43°F
Cons
Median income trails Columbia by $35,638/yr
Property crime (2661.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pricier housing — median home is $494,700
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Columbia
Columbia, MD
Pros
Households earn $35,638 more per year on average
More college-educated — 63.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $36k less ($458,700 vs $494,700)
Smaller class sizes — 13.5:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Beaverton
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,895/mo
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbia
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 102.7 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Median Income
$35,638
$124,537 vs $88,899/yr
Columbia
Median Home Value
$36k less
$458,700 vs $494,700
Columbia
Summer Heat
6.3°F warmer
July avg high 88.6°F vs 82.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Beaverton, OR | Columbia, MD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $494,700⚠ High | $458,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,663⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,895⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,899 | $124,537 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% | 18.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 108⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) | A (123) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.3:1 | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.3% | 63.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.5% | 95.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Beaverton SD 48J | Howard County Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.7°F ✓ Warmer | 42.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.3°F | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.0" ✓ Drier | 49.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" ✓ Less | 28.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,554 | 106,600 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.7 | 38.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.3% | 64.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 21.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% | 16.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Beaverton's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Columbia's 102.7 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Columbia leads 14 of 20 categories. Beaverton wins 6 and Columbia wins 14. 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 Beaverton to Columbia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,700 vs $458,700 median home), income ($88,899 vs $124,537), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Beaverton, OR and Columbia, MD are about 2,354 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.