Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, MO
VS
Knoxville, TN
🏆 Columbia leads 15 of 22 categories
Columbia
Missouri
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,455 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
91 ✓ Safer
Population
126,172
Knoxville
Tennessee
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8
Median Household Income
$48,309
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
191,857 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Columbia, MO
Pros
53% less violent crime than Knoxville
Households earn $12,146 more per year on average
More college-educated — 55.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.0%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Knoxville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $64k less ($184,200 vs $248,600)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 39°F
Cons
Violent crime (740.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Columbia by $12,146/yr
Property crime (2721.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.8% vs 4.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbia
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 92.8 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Median Income
$12,146
$60,455 vs $48,309/yr
Columbia
Violent Crime
53% lower
347.5 vs 740.3 per 100k
Columbia
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.0% vs 4.8% unemployment
Knoxville
Median Home Value
$64k less
$184,200 vs $248,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbia, MO | Knoxville, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper | 92.8 |
| Median Home Value | $248,600 | $184,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,043 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,455 ✓ Higher | $48,309 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.5 min ✓ Shorter | 20.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 9.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.3% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 90.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLUMBIA 93 | Knox County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 47.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer | 88.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.8" ✓ Drier | 55.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.4" | 4.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,172 | 191,857 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 33.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.8% ✓ Higher | 46.2% |
| Under 18 | 19.0% ✓ More | 18.2% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 89.3 vs Knoxville's 92.8 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Columbia leads 15 of 22 categories. Columbia wins 15 and Knoxville wins 7. 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 Knoxville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($248,600 vs $184,200 median home), income ($60,455 vs $48,309), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, MO and Knoxville, TN are about 503 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.