Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clovis, CA
VS
Columbia, MO
🏆 Clovis leads 13 of 23 categories
Clovis
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,554 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
120,607
Columbia
Missouri
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,455
Violent Crime Index
91
Population
126,172 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clovis, CA
Pros
Households earn $38,099 more per year on average
30% less violent crime than Columbia
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.6 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $420,700
Higher rents — median is $1,482/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Columbia
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 4.0%)
Columbia, MO
Pros
Homes cost $172k less ($248,600 vs $420,700)
Rent averages $485/mo less ($997 vs $1,482)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (4.0%)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Clovis
More college-educated — 55.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Clovis by $38,099/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Clovis
Median Income
$38,099
$98,554 vs $60,455/yr
Clovis
Violent Crime
30% lower
244.6 vs 347.5 per 100k
Clovis
Summer Heat
9.1°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 88.6°F
Columbia
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 107.8 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Median Home Value
$172k less
$248,600 vs $420,700
Columbia
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
4.0% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clovis, CA | Columbia, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.8⚠ High | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $420,700⚠ High | $248,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,482⚠ High | $997 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,554 ✓ Higher | $60,455 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min | 16.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% ✓ Higher | 7.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 70 ✓ Safer | 99 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) | A (123) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.2:1 | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.3% | 55.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% | 95.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clovis Unified | COLUMBIA 93 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.4°F ✓ Warmer | 39.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer | 88.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.6" ✓ Drier | 44.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 17.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,607 | 126,172 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.8 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.5% ✓ Higher | 48.8% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 19.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% ✓ More | 11.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clovis's cost of living index is 107.8 vs Columbia's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Clovis leads 13 of 23 categories. Clovis wins 13 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 Clovis to Columbia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($420,700 vs $248,600 median home), income ($98,554 vs $60,455), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clovis, CA and Columbia, MO are about 1,493 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.