Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, MO
VS
Oklahoma City, OK
🏆 Oklahoma City 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 ✓ Safer
Population
126,172
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0
Median Household Income
$64,251 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
681,088 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Columbia, MO
Pros
49% less violent crime than Oklahoma City
More college-educated — 55.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.0%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Smaller class sizes — 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Oklahoma City by $3,796/yr
Oklahoma City, OK
Pros
Homes cost $52k less ($196,700 vs $248,600)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 39°F
Households earn $3,796 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (676.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2893.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbia
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 91.0 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Violent Crime
49% lower
347.5 vs 676.0 per 100k
Columbia
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.0% vs 4.5% unemployment
Oklahoma City
Median Income
$3,796
$64,251 vs $60,455/yr
Oklahoma City
Median Home Value
$52k less
$196,700 vs $248,600
Oklahoma City
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 93.1°F vs 88.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbia, MO | Oklahoma City, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper | 91.0 |
| Median Home Value | $248,600 | $196,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,012 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,455 | $64,251 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.5 min ✓ Shorter | 22.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 8.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 ✓ Safer | 162⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.3% ✓ Higher | 33.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLUMBIA 93 | OKLAHOMA CITY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 49.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F | 93.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.8" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.4" | 6.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,172 | 681,088 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.8% | 59.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.0% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 13.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 89.3 vs Oklahoma City's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Oklahoma City leads 12 of 23 categories. Columbia wins 11 and Oklahoma City 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 Oklahoma City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($248,600 vs $196,700 median home), income ($60,455 vs $64,251), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, MO and Oklahoma City, OK are about 373 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.