Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, MD
VS
Highlands Ranch, CO
🏆 Highlands Ranch leads 11 of 20 categories
Columbia
Maryland
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$124,537
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
106,600 ✓ Larger
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$148,227 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36
Population
101,514
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Columbia, MD
Pros
Homes cost $179k less ($458,700 vs $637,400)
Rent averages $458/mo less ($1,895 vs $2,353)
Smaller class sizes — 13.5:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Highlands Ranch
Cons
Median income trails Highlands Ranch by $23,690/yr
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $23,690 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (3.4%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $637,400
Higher rents — median is $2,353/mo
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Columbia
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbia
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 102.7 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Median Home Value
$179k less
$458,700 vs $637,400
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$23,690
$148,227 vs $124,537/yr
Highlands Ranch
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
3.4% vs 4.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbia, MD | Highlands Ranch, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $458,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $637,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,895⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,353⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,537 | $148,227 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 25.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.5% | 26.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 48 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 36 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 65 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | A- (114) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 63.6% | 65.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% | 98.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Howard County Public Schools | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.7°F | 44.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer | 87.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.7" | 18.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.5" ✓ Less | 64.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,600 ✓ Larger | 101,514 |
| Median Age | 38.8 | 41.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.3% | 79.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Highlands Ranch's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Highlands Ranch leads 11 of 20 categories. Columbia wins 9 and Highlands Ranch wins 11. 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 Highlands Ranch or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($458,700 vs $637,400 median home), income ($124,537 vs $148,227), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, MD and Highlands Ranch, CO are about 1,496 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.