Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, MD
VS
South Fulton, GA
🏆 Columbia leads 11 of 20 categories
Columbia
Maryland
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$124,537 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
106,600
South Fulton
Georgia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,488
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
107,865 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Columbia, MD
Pros
Households earn $47,049 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (4.0%)
More college-educated — 63.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 13.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $458,700
Higher rents — median is $1,895/mo
South Fulton, GA
Pros
Homes cost $217k less ($242,200 vs $458,700)
Rent averages $434/mo less ($1,461 vs $1,895)
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 43°F
Cons
Median income trails Columbia by $47,049/yr
Violent crime (470.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 4.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbia
Median Income
$47,049
$124,537 vs $77,488/yr
Columbia
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
4.0% vs 7.8% unemployment
South Fulton
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 102.7 (100 = US avg)
South Fulton
Median Home Value
$217k less
$242,200 vs $458,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbia, MD | South Fulton, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $458,700⚠ High | $242,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,895⚠ High | $1,461⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,537 ✓ Higher | $77,488 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 32.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 18.5% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 111⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 91 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 63.6% ✓ Higher | 39.1% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 93.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Howard County Public Schools | State Specialty Schools I- Georgia Cyber Academy |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.7°F | 54.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F | 90.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.7" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.5" | 2.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,600 | 107,865 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.8 ✓ Older | 37.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.3% | 69.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 102.7 vs South Fulton's 100.9 (US average = 100).
South Fulton is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Columbia leads 11 of 20 categories. Columbia wins 11 and South Fulton 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 Columbia to South Fulton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($458,700 vs $242,200 median home), income ($124,537 vs $77,488), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, MD and South Fulton, GA are about 576 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.