Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, MO
VS
O'Fallon, MO
🏆 O'Fallon leads 13 of 21 categories
Columbia
Missouri
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,455
Violent Crime Index
91
Population
126,172 ✓ Larger
O'Fallon
Missouri
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.3
Median Household Income
$104,863 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
91,825
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Columbia, MO
Pros
Rent averages $314/mo less ($997 vs $1,311)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Homes cost $35k less ($248,600 vs $283,600)
More college-educated — 55.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than O'Fallon
Cons
Median income trails O'Fallon by $44,408/yr
Higher unemployment (4.0% vs 3.1%)
O'Fallon, MO
Pros
Households earn $44,408 more per year on average
83% less violent crime than Columbia
Violent crime is well below the national average (59.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (3.1%)
Cons
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Columbia
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbia
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 96.3 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Median Home Value
$35k less
$248,600 vs $283,600
O'Fallon
Median Income
$44,408
$104,863 vs $60,455/yr
O'Fallon
Violent Crime
83% lower
59.0 vs 347.5 per 100k
O'Fallon
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
3.1% vs 4.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbia, MO | O'Fallon, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper | 96.3 |
| Median Home Value | $248,600 ✓ Lower | $283,600 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,311 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,455 | $104,863 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High | 3.1% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.5 min ✓ Shorter | 26.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 14.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 | 18 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 | 16 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 110⚠ High | 23 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | A (118) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 | 12.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.3% ✓ Higher | 42.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% | 95.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLUMBIA 93 | FORT ZUMWALT SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 39.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer | 87.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.8" | 44.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.4" | 13.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,172 ✓ Larger | 91,825 |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 38.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.8% | 80.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.0% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 89.3 vs O'Fallon's 96.3 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, O'Fallon leads 13 of 21 categories. Columbia wins 8 and O'Fallon wins 13. 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 O'Fallon or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($248,600 vs $283,600 median home), income ($60,455 vs $104,863), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, MO and O'Fallon, MO are about 87 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.