Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, MO
VS
Highlands Ranch, CO
🏆 Highlands Ranch leads 14 of 23 categories
Columbia
Missouri
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,455
Violent Crime Index
91
Population
126,172 ✓ Larger
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$148,227 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
101,514
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Columbia, MO
Pros
Homes cost $389k less ($248,600 vs $637,400)
Rent averages $1356/mo less ($997 vs $2,353)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Highlands Ranch
Commutes run 9 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 Highlands Ranch by $87,772/yr
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
Households earn $87,772 more per year on average
60% less violent crime than Columbia
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (3.4%)
More college-educated — 65.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $637,400
Higher rents — median is $2,353/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Columbia
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbia
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Median Home Value
$389k less
$248,600 vs $637,400
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$87,772
$148,227 vs $60,455/yr
Highlands Ranch
Violent Crime
60% lower
138.1 vs 347.5 per 100k
Highlands Ranch
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
3.4% vs 4.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbia, MO | Highlands Ranch, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $248,600 ✓ Lower | $637,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $2,353⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,455 | $148,227 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.5 min ✓ Shorter | 25.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 26.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 | 36 ✓ 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- (114) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.3% | 65.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% | 98.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLUMBIA 93 | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 44.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer | 87.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.8" | 18.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.4" ✓ Less | 64.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,172 ✓ Larger | 101,514 |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 41.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.8% | 79.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.0% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 89.3 vs Highlands Ranch's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Highlands Ranch leads 14 of 23 categories. Columbia wins 9 and Highlands Ranch wins 14. 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 ($248,600 vs $637,400 median home), income ($60,455 vs $148,227), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, MO and Highlands Ranch, CO are about 677 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.