Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, MO
VS
Ontario, CA
🏆 Ontario 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
Ontario
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
176,326 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Columbia, MO
Pros
Homes cost $264k less ($248,600 vs $513,000)
Rent averages $829/mo less ($997 vs $1,826)
More college-educated — 55.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Ontario
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.0%)
Cons
Median income trails Ontario by $17,615/yr
Ontario, CA
Pros
22% less violent crime than Columbia
Households earn $17,615 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $513,000
Higher rents — median is $1,826/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Columbia
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbia
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Median Home Value
$264k less
$248,600 vs $513,000
Columbia
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.0% vs 5.8% unemployment
Ontario
Median Income
$17,615
$78,070 vs $60,455/yr
Ontario
Violent Crime
22% lower
272.2 vs 347.5 per 100k
Ontario
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 88.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbia, MO | Ontario, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $248,600 ✓ Lower | $513,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,826⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,455 | $78,070 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.5 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 | 72 ✓ 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 | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.3% ✓ Higher | 19.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 76.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLUMBIA 93 | Ontario-Montclair |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.8" | 11.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,172 | 176,326 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 32.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.8% | 55.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.0% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.1% ✓ More | 10.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 89.3 vs Ontario's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Ontario leads 12 of 23 categories. Columbia wins 11 and Ontario 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 Ontario or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($248,600 vs $513,000 median home), income ($60,455 vs $78,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, MO and Ontario, CA are about 1,439 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.