Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, MD
VS
Roseville, CA
🏆 Roseville leads 11 of 20 categories
Columbia
Maryland
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$124,537 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
106,600
Roseville
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$112,265
Violent Crime Index
58
Population
148,879 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Columbia, MD
Pros
Homes cost $138k less ($458,700 vs $596,700)
More college-educated — 63.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.0%)
Households earn $12,272 more per year on average
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Roseville
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 94°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Roseville, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 43°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $596,700
Median income trails Columbia by $12,272/yr
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Columbia
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbia
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 102.7 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Median Income
$12,272
$124,537 vs $112,265/yr
Columbia
Median Home Value
$138k less
$458,700 vs $596,700
Columbia
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.0% vs 4.5% unemployment
Roseville
Summer Heat
5.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.6°F vs 88.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbia, MD | Roseville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $458,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $596,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,895⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,940⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,537 ✓ Higher | $112,265 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 27.7 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.5% | 19.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 62 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 58 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 68 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 63.6% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 95.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Howard County Public Schools | Roseville City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.7°F | 55.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F | 93.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.7" | 20.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,600 | 148,879 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.8 | 39.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.3% | 68.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% | 17.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Roseville's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Roseville leads 11 of 20 categories. Columbia wins 9 and Roseville 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 Roseville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($458,700 vs $596,700 median home), income ($124,537 vs $112,265), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, MD and Roseville, CA are about 2,363 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.