Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, MO
VS
Irving, TX
🏆 Irving leads 12 of 23 categories
Columbia
Missouri
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,455
Violent Crime Index
91
Population
126,172
Irving
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,686 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
254,962 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Columbia, MO
Pros
Rent averages $426/mo less ($997 vs $1,423)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Irving
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 55.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 96°F
Cons
Median income trails Irving by $16,231/yr
Irving, TX
Pros
21% less violent crime than Columbia
Households earn $16,231 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 39°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,423/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Columbia
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbia
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Median Home Value
$11k less
$248,600 vs $259,500
Irving
Median Income
$16,231
$76,686 vs $60,455/yr
Irving
Violent Crime
21% lower
275.4 vs 347.5 per 100k
Irving
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 88.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbia, MO | Irving, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $248,600 ✓ Lower | $259,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,423⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,455 | $76,686 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.5 min ✓ Shorter | 23.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 14.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 110⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | B+ (109) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.3% ✓ Higher | 40.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 79.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLUMBIA 93 | IRVING ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.8" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.4" | 1.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,172 | 254,962 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 32.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.8% ✓ Higher | 37.2% |
| Under 18 | 19.0% | 26.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.1% ✓ More | 8.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 89.3 vs Irving's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Irving leads 12 of 23 categories. Columbia wins 11 and Irving wins 12. 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 Irving or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($248,600 vs $259,500 median home), income ($60,455 vs $76,686), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, MO and Irving, TX are about 494 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.