Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, MO
VS
McAllen, TX
🏆 McAllen leads 16 of 23 categories
Columbia
Missouri
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3
Median Household Income
$60,455 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
91
Population
126,172
McAllen
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
142,722 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Columbia, MO
Pros
More college-educated — 55.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.0%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 98°F
Households earn $4,129 more per year on average
Cons
Cost of living runs 4% higher than McAllen
McAllen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $90k less ($158,700 vs $248,600)
57% less violent crime than Columbia
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 39°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.6)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Columbia
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.0%)
Median income trails Columbia by $4,129/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbia
Median Income
$4,129
$60,455 vs $56,326/yr
Columbia
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.0% vs 5.4% unemployment
McAllen
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 89.3 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Violent Crime
57% lower
150.0 vs 347.5 per 100k
McAllen
Median Home Value
$90k less
$158,700 vs $248,600
McAllen
Summer Heat
8.9°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 88.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbia, MO | McAllen, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.3 | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $248,600 | $158,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 | $955 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,455 ✓ Higher | $56,326 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.5 min ✓ Shorter | 21.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 9.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 110⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.3% ✓ Higher | 31.8% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 78.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLUMBIA 93 | MCALLEN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.8" | 27.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.4" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,172 | 142,722 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 32.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.8% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.0% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 13.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 89.3 vs McAllen's 85.6 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McAllen leads 16 of 23 categories. Columbia wins 7 and McAllen wins 16. 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 McAllen or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($248,600 vs $158,700 median home), income ($60,455 vs $56,326), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, MO and McAllen, TX are about 944 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.