Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, MD
VS
Edmond, OK
🏆 Edmond leads 12 of 20 categories
Columbia
Maryland
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$124,537 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
106,600 ✓ Larger
Edmond
Oklahoma
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$96,389
Violent Crime Index
43
Population
94,503
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Columbia, MD
Pros
Households earn $28,148 more per year on average
More college-educated — 63.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 13.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,895/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $458,700
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Edmond
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Edmond, OK
Pros
Rent averages $638/mo less ($1,257 vs $1,895)
Homes cost $154k less ($304,700 vs $458,700)
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.2 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (3.5%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Columbia
Cons
Median income trails Columbia by $28,148/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbia
Median Income
$28,148
$124,537 vs $96,389/yr
Edmond
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 102.7 (100 = US avg)
Edmond
Median Home Value
$154k less
$304,700 vs $458,700
Edmond
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
3.5% vs 4.0% unemployment
Edmond
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 93.3°F vs 88.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbia, MD | Edmond, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $458,700⚠ High | $304,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,895⚠ High | $1,257 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,537 ✓ Higher | $96,389 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.5% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 52 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 43 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 65 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | A- (116) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 63.6% ✓ Higher | 55.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% | 96.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Howard County Public Schools | EDMOND |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.7°F | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.7" | 34.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.5" | 2.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,600 ✓ Larger | 94,503 |
| Median Age | 38.8 ✓ Older | 37.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.3% | 70.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 25.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% ✓ More | 15.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Edmond's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Edmond is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Edmond leads 12 of 20 categories. Columbia wins 8 and Edmond wins 12. 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 Columbia to Edmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($458,700 vs $304,700 median home), income ($124,537 vs $96,389), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, MD and Edmond, OK are about 1,151 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.