Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buckeye, AZ
VS
Columbia, SC
🏆 Buckeye leads 14 of 23 categories
Buckeye
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0
Median Household Income
$94,188 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
95,042
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 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Buckeye, AZ
Pros
Households earn $40,093 more per year on average
78% less violent crime than Columbia
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (5.0%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (166.8 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 56°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $341,700
Higher rents — median is $1,597/mo
Longer commutes — 32.5 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Columbia, SC
Pros
Homes cost $116k less ($226,200 vs $341,700)
Rent averages $492/mo less ($1,105 vs $1,597)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 44.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 93°F vs 107°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.9)
Cons
Median income trails Buckeye by $40,093/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 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Buckeye
Median Income
$40,093
$94,188 vs $54,095/yr
Buckeye
Violent Crime
78% lower
166.8 vs 769.9 per 100k
Buckeye
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
5.0% vs 7.9% unemployment
Buckeye
Summer Heat
14.0°F warmer
July avg high 106.5°F vs 92.5°F
Columbia
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 92.9 vs 100.0 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Median Home Value
$116k less
$226,200 vs $341,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buckeye, AZ | Columbia, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.0 | 92.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $341,700⚠ High | $226,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,597⚠ High | $1,105 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,188 ✓ Higher | $54,095 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.5 min⚠ High | 17.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 41 ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 203⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 37 ✓ Safer | 154⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (72) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.2:1 | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.9% | 44.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.2% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Litchfield Elementary District (4281) | Richland 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.1°F ✓ Warmer | 56.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 106.5°F ✓ Warmer | 92.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.0" ✓ Drier | 48.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,042 | 136,754 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 28.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 85.3% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 17.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buckeye's cost of living index is 100.0 vs Columbia's 92.9 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Buckeye leads 14 of 23 categories. Buckeye 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 Buckeye to Columbia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($341,700 vs $226,200 median home), income ($94,188 vs $54,095), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buckeye, AZ and Columbia, SC are about 1,817 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.