Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, MO
VS
Portsmouth, VA
🏆 Columbia leads 16 of 23 categories
Columbia
Missouri
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,455 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
91 ✓ Safer
Population
126,172 ✓ Larger
Portsmouth
Virginia
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$57,154
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
97,384
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Columbia, MO
Pros
54% less violent crime than Portsmouth
More college-educated — 55.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (4.0%)
Rent averages $228/mo less ($997 vs $1,225)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Portsmouth
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
Homes cost $35k less ($213,300 vs $248,600)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 39°F
Cons
Violent crime (752.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3860.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.0%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Columbia
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbia
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Median Income
$3,301
$60,455 vs $57,154/yr
Columbia
Violent Crime
54% lower
347.5 vs 752.4 per 100k
Columbia
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
4.0% vs 6.6% unemployment
Portsmouth
Median Home Value
$35k less
$213,300 vs $248,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbia, MO | Portsmouth, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $248,600 | $213,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,225 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,455 ✓ Higher | $57,154 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.5 min ✓ Shorter | 23.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer | 184⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.3% ✓ Higher | 21.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 89.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLUMBIA 93 | Portsmouth City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.8" ✓ Drier | 50.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.4" | 3.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,172 ✓ Larger | 97,384 |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.8% | 56.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.0% | 23.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 89.3 vs Portsmouth's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Columbia leads 16 of 23 categories. Columbia wins 16 and Portsmouth wins 7. 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 Portsmouth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($248,600 vs $213,300 median home), income ($60,455 vs $57,154), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, MO and Portsmouth, VA are about 881 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.