Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, MO
VS
Edmond, OK
🏆 Edmond leads 15 of 23 categories
Columbia
Missouri
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,455
Violent Crime Index
91
Population
126,172 ✓ Larger
Edmond
Oklahoma
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0
Median Household Income
$96,389 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
43 ✓ Safer
Population
94,503
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Columbia, MO
Pros
Rent averages $260/mo less ($997 vs $1,257)
Homes cost $56k less ($248,600 vs $304,700)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Smaller class sizes — 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Edmond by $35,934/yr
Edmond, OK
Pros
Households earn $35,934 more per year on average
52% less violent crime than Columbia
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (3.5%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 39°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbia
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 91.0 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Median Home Value
$56k less
$248,600 vs $304,700
Edmond
Median Income
$35,934
$96,389 vs $60,455/yr
Edmond
Violent Crime
52% lower
165.2 vs 347.5 per 100k
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, MO | Edmond, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper | 91.0 |
| Median Home Value | $248,600 ✓ Lower | $304,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,257 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,455 | $96,389 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.5 min ✓ Shorter | 23.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 11.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 110⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | A- (116) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.3% ✓ Higher | 55.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% | 96.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLUMBIA 93 | EDMOND |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.8" | 34.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.4" | 2.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,172 ✓ Larger | 94,503 |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.8% | 70.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.0% | 25.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 89.3 vs Edmond's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Edmond leads 15 of 23 categories. Columbia wins 8 and Edmond wins 15. 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 ($248,600 vs $304,700 median home), income ($60,455 vs $96,389), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, MO and Edmond, OK are about 359 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.