Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, MO
VS
Hampton, VA
🏆 Columbia leads 12 of 23 categories
Columbia
Missouri
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,455
Violent Crime Index
91
Population
126,172
Hampton
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$64,430 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
65 ✓ Safer
Population
137,217 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Columbia, MO
Pros
Rent averages $258/mo less ($997 vs $1,255)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (4.0%)
More college-educated — 55.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Hampton
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Cons
Median income trails Hampton by $3,975/yr
Hampton, VA
Pros
29% less violent crime than Columbia
Violent crime is well below the national average (247.6 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $29k less ($219,800 vs $248,600)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 39°F
Households earn $3,975 more per year on average
Cons
Property crime (2882.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 4.0%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Columbia
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbia
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
4.0% vs 6.5% unemployment
Hampton
Median Income
$3,975
$64,430 vs $60,455/yr
Hampton
Violent Crime
29% lower
247.6 vs 347.5 per 100k
Hampton
Median Home Value
$29k less
$219,800 vs $248,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbia, MO | Hampton, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $248,600 | $219,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,255 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,455 | $64,430 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.5 min ✓ Shorter | 22.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% ✓ Higher | 7.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 | 94 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 | 65 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer | 137⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.3% ✓ Higher | 27.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 92.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLUMBIA 93 | Hampton City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 49.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer | 87.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.8" ✓ Drier | 47.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.4" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,172 | 137,217 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.8% | 55.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.0% | 21.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 89.3 vs Hampton's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Columbia leads 12 of 23 categories. Columbia wins 12 and Hampton 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 Hampton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($248,600 vs $219,800 median home), income ($60,455 vs $64,430), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, MO and Hampton, VA are about 881 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.