Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, MO
VS
Plano, TX
🏆 Plano leads 16 of 23 categories
Columbia
Missouri
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,455
Violent Crime Index
91
Population
126,172
Plano
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,679 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
284,948 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Columbia, MO
Pros
Rent averages $702/mo less ($997 vs $1,699)
Homes cost $164k less ($248,600 vs $412,500)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Plano
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Plano by $45,224/yr
Plano, TX
Pros
Households earn $45,224 more per year on average
56% less violent crime than Columbia
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.6 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 39°F
More college-educated — 58.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,699/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $412,500
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Columbia
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbia
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Median Home Value
$164k less
$248,600 vs $412,500
Plano
Median Income
$45,224
$105,679 vs $60,455/yr
Plano
Violent Crime
56% lower
151.6 vs 347.5 per 100k
Plano
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 88.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbia, MO | Plano, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $248,600 ✓ Lower | $412,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,699⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,455 | $105,679 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.5 min ✓ Shorter | 25.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 22.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 110⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) | A+ (134) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.3% | 58.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 93.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLUMBIA 93 | PLANO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.8" | 40.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.4" | 2.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,172 | 284,948 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 38.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.8% | 56.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.0% | 21.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 89.3 vs Plano's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Plano leads 16 of 23 categories. Columbia wins 7 and Plano 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 Plano or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($248,600 vs $412,500 median home), income ($60,455 vs $105,679), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, MO and Plano, TX are about 476 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.