Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, MO
VS
Inglewood, CA
🏆 Columbia leads 15 of 23 categories
Columbia
Missouri
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,455
Violent Crime Index
91 ✓ Safer
Population
126,172 ✓ Larger
Inglewood
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,563 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
106,806
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Columbia, MO
Pros
Homes cost $441k less ($248,600 vs $689,700)
Rent averages $669/mo less ($997 vs $1,666)
48% less violent crime than Inglewood
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 pts lower (4.0%)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Inglewood
More college-educated — 55.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Inglewood by $7,108/yr
Inglewood, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 39°F
Households earn $7,108 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $689,700
Higher rents — median is $1,666/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Columbia
Violent crime (674.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbia
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Violent Crime
48% lower
347.5 vs 674.6 per 100k
Columbia
Median Home Value
$441k less
$248,600 vs $689,700
Columbia
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
4.0% vs 8.2% unemployment
Columbia
Summer Heat
11.4°F warmer
July avg high 88.6°F vs 77.2°F
Inglewood
Median Income
$7,108
$67,563 vs $60,455/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbia, MO | Inglewood, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $248,600 ✓ Lower | $689,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,666⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,455 | $67,563 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.5 min ✓ Shorter | 30.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer | 172⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.3% ✓ Higher | 22.8% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 77.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLUMBIA 93 | Inglewood Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer | 77.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.8" | 11.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,172 ✓ Larger | 106,806 |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.8% ✓ Higher | 35.5% |
| Under 18 | 19.0% | 21.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 89.3 vs Inglewood's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Columbia leads 15 of 23 categories. Columbia wins 15 and Inglewood wins 8. 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 Inglewood or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($248,600 vs $689,700 median home), income ($60,455 vs $67,563), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, MO and Inglewood, CA are about 1,481 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.